The UK is kicking off its first negotiation meeting with all 11
members of CPTPP - a major trans-Pacific bloc which includes
Canada, Japan, Mexico and Australia.
While other members have previously met to discuss the UK’s
application, the first UK-attended meeting of the CPTPP’s UK
Accession Working Group begins virtually in the early hours of
Tuesday 28 September. These talks will kick off a series of
negotiations on the UK’s accession to the trading partnership.
CPTPP had a combined GDP of £9 trillion in 2019, and is home to
500 million people including some of the world’s biggest and
fastest-growing economies across Asia-Pacific and the Americas.
Joining the partnership could mean tariff-free trade for 99.9% of
our exports, including food and drink, and cars, while also
creating new opportunities for modern industries like tech and
services, ultimately supporting and creating high-value jobs
across the UK.
International Trade Secretary
said:
This is a big milestone on our path to joining CPTPP, which will
allow us to forge stronger links both with old friends and some
of the world’s fastest-growing economies.
Joining this high-standards partnership will provide real
opportunities for UK exporters and service providers and help our
innovators open up new, diverse markets. Seizing opportunities
like this is exactly what Global Britain is about and will help
bring high-quality jobs and prosperity to every region of our
country.
These initial talks will focus on how the UK meets the standards
set out in the CPTPP agreement. The deal is one of the world’s
most advanced in both digital and services trade, which plays to
the UK’s strengths as the world’s second-largest services
exporter.
At the same time new Trade Minister is visiting two CPTPP countries - Chile and Peru -
on her first official visit as Minister of State.
She will meet Chile’s Minister of Agriculture Maria Emilia
Undurraga, and her Peruvian counterpart Roberto Sánchez as well
as businesses from the region.
Her talks will focus on the benefits of the UK joining the
dynamic trading bloc as well as opportunities for expanding
bilateral trade with the two countries.
Trade Minister said:
Chile and Peru are important strategic trade partners for the UK,
and I will be using the visit to explore deeper trade and
investment ties with both countries. As we kick off negotiations
to join CPTPP, there is no better time for British businesses to
take advantage of the growing export opportunities in this
dynamic part of the world.
