Share your views: general review of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
1. Introduction
The UK Government is interested in receiving views from businesses, individuals and other interested stakeholders on which areas of the current CPTPP agreement the government should seek to keep the same, change or improve through the CPTPP general review.
2. Background
The UK signed its accession protocol to CPTPP on 16 July 2023. The government is now taking the steps needed to ratify the agreement, which is expected to come into force in the second half of 2024, subject to parliamentary approval. See further details on the CPTPP agreement and the terms of the UK accession.
CPTPP is designed to be a living agreement, evolving to maintain its high standards. In reflection, the CPTPP text mandates that the agreement should be reviewed at least every 5 years – referred to as the “general review”. It has now been agreed amongst CPTPP members that the first general review of the agreement will begin in 2024, and CPTPP members recently agreed on the terms of reference for that review.
Although the general review will likely begin while the UK is still a non-ratified member of CPTPP, the government expects the review process to conclude after the UK is a ratified member, subject to ratification being agreed by Parliament. This means it is important that the UK is involved in the review process with other members from the beginning, and the government must understand the views of interested stakeholders as that process begins. That is why the government is launching this public engagement period on the general review.
3. Public engagement in the general review
The UK considers that CPTPP is already a well-functioning, high-standards agreement. That was the basis on which the UK applied to join, following one of the largest consultation exercises ever run by the government. The government understands that this also remains the view of the other members of the agreement. Therefore, any changes to the agreement made through the general review process will likely be carefully targeted to areas where all members consider there would be benefits from closing perceived gaps in the agreement, to ensure the agreement remains of the highest possible international standard. Any such changes would require consensus amongst all members.
With that context in mind, the UK Government is interested in receiving submissions on the following questions:
Which areas of the current CPTPP agreement should the government seek to keep the same through the CPTPP general review?
Which areas of the CPTPP agreement should the government seek to change or improve through the general review in line with the highest standard international trading practices?
4. Share your views
You can submit your answers through this form.
Interested stakeholders have until 22 February 2024 to provide submissions. You can contact CPTPP.Engagement@businessandtrade.gov.uk if you have any questions.
5. Other relevant information
Other relevant information includes:
