RCEP will not worsen trade deficit: ministry (vietnamnews.vn)

Statistics showed that Vietnam ran a trade deficit worth US$5.58 billion with ASEAN, $27.71 billion with China and $21.37 billion with the Republic of Korea in the first nine months of this year, which triggered concerns the deal might widen the country’s trade deficit figures. However, the Ministry of Industry and Trade affirmed that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) would not worsen the trade deficit Vietnam was running with signatory markets.
https://vietnamnews.vn/economy/809523/rcep-will-not-worsen-trade-deficit-ministry.html