Abstract: With the WTO multilateral mechanism stalled, regional economic and trade agreements have been progressing rapidly. CPTPP, JapanEU EPA, and USMCA have been in effect worldwide. Before the epidemic of COVID19, East Asia regional economic cooperation has also entered the fast lane; RCEP has entered the final stage; China, Japan, and South Korea also promised to accelerate ChinaJapanKorea FTA negotiations after RCEP. The outbreak of the epidemic has spawned cooperation in some issues such as epidemic prevention and public health in East Asian countries or regions, but it has cast a shadow over the established process of regional economic cooperation in East Asia. After the epidemic, the switching of Japans economic policy will greatly increase the uncertainty of signing RCEP during this year.

Key words: COVID19, regional economic cooperation in East Asia, RCEP, Japans policy orientation