World's largest trade deal RCEP faces delay as India pushes back against China

Sixteen-nation Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership will cover half the planet's people

The world's largest trade deal is unlikely to be signed this year, with a draft statement from south-east Asian leaders suggesting it will be delayed until 2020, despite China's desire to bring it into operation as soon as possible as a counterweight to its debilitating tariff war with the US.

The 16-country Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership - known as the RCEP - would be the world's largest when operational, spanning India to New Zealand, including 30% of global GDP and half of the world's people.