Objective To conduct an deep exploration of the competitive and complementary relationships in tropical agricultural products, providing a scientific basis and strategic recommendations for strengthening cooperation between China and RCEP countries in the field of tropical agricultural trade. Through systematic analysis, the study aims to reveal the strengths and weaknesses of member countries in the tropical agricultural sector, thereby promoting optimal resource allocation and mutually beneficial trade within the region.

Method Based on country-specific data from 15 nations between 2014 and 2023, studying meticulously and examinng comprehensively into trade dynamics of major tropical agricultural products between China and other RCEP member countries. Utilizing analytical indicators such as the revealed comparative advantage index (RCA), trade intensity index (TII), and trade complementarity index (TCI) to investigate into the competitive and complementary trade relationships between China and other RCEP members.

Result In recent years, China's trade deficit with other RCEP members in tropical agricultural products has shown a significant widening trend, increasing from 8.684 billion in 2014 to 15.27 billion in 2023. China's RCA index has remained around 0.1, reflecting relatively weak international competitiveness in tropical agricultural products. Moreover, there is an imbalance in the trade intensity between China and other RCEP members. The TII index between China and Australia, Thailand, South Korea, and Vietnam consistently remained above 1.0 from 2014 to 2023, meanwhile it was below 1.0 for Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. China and ASEAN countries exhibit strong complementarities in tropical agricultural trade, with TCI values all exceeding 1.0.

Conclusion To effectively enhance competition and cooperation between China and RCEP members on major tropical agriculture product trade, this study proposes on the following recommendations: optimize brand development and export structure for tropical agricultural products to increase added value and international competitiveness; actively adjust the industrial and trade structure of tropical agricultural products to promote industrial upgrading and trade diversification; extend and refine the tropical agricultural product supply chain to improve overall efficiency and risk resilience; and strengthen technical cooperation and exchange in tropical agriculture to elevate China's overall technological capabilities through technology introduction and innovation.