Trade and FDI effects in Eurasia: the cases of RCEP and EAEU

Abstract Subject and purpose of work The overview of trade and FDI effects in 2019-2023 in two biggest integration communities of Eurasia: Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) with 15 members (including ASEAN) and Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) with 5 countries (including Russia). Materials and methods The analysis of export, import, and trade balances showed asymmetric trade effects for the RCEP-countries that are focused on regional, intraregional, extra regional trade. Results It’s proved that the signing of RCEP agreement raised attractiveness of the region for the FDI. In its contrast, the EAEU has refocused its trade effects on mutual trade with the significant role of Russia as the main FDI investor due to the decoupling from the West. Conclusions The difference in economic scale and political effects between RCEP & EAEU reflects different motivation and the barriers for bilateral trade and investment cooperation in the future.