The ASEAN-inaugurated Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) was eventually concluded on 15 November 2020 after 8 years of tough negotiations. India was counted as an important member of the RCEP, but it chose to back out when other members were finalizing the RCEP legal text. This article critically analyzes the relevant legal provisions leading to India’s withdrawal from this significant mega trade deal, the reasons behind India’s refusal of those provisions, the possibility of isolationism India might face, and geopolitical changes in Sino–India relations post stand-off on the Galwan Valley as well as the COVID-19 pandemic. It argues that unbalanced economic relations, India’s selfreliant ideology, as well as China’s growing hegemony in the Asia-Pacific region are among the principle factors for India to back out from the RCEP. However, the door to participate in the future remains open for India.

Key words: RCEP, CPTPP, free trade, regional geopolitics, China–India relations