Exploring research trends in ASEAN and RCEP: A bibliometric study of tariffs and trade liberalization

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) have played a pivotal role in influencing international trade patterns over the years. Using tariff reduction and trade liberalization, ASEAN and RCEP are motivated to enhance the economy efficiency and competitiveness of its members which is proven to be one of the most important agenda in these economic structures. Therefore, this study seeks to examine the evolution of research surrounding ASEAN and RCEP economic frameworks, especially focusing on tariff and trade liberalization. This study used data extracted from Scopus database to perform bibliometric analysis. Through bibliometric analysis, this study uncovered the research trend, total publications, total citations and citation per paper. The most productive and authors, prominent journals, countries and institutions are revealed within these two significant economic frameworks. This study provides a foundational overview of existing literature on tariff and trade liberalization in ASEAN and RCEP, offering important implications for decision-makers, academics, and practitioners interested in the regional economic integration. Despite the increasing number of studies on ASEAN and RCEP, existing works remain scattered and lack systematic bibliometric analysis. This study addresses this gap by mapping the intellectual landscape by providing evidence-based insights that inform future research directions and regional policy discussions.