The Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade recently met with the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) members to discuss the United Kingdom’s application to join the CPTPP. They agreed to establish an Accession Working Group to begin negotiations with the U.K. on its proposed membership.
At the meeting held on June 2, 2021, the members agreed on a joint statement highlighting the importance of expanding the CPTPP through the accession of aspirant economies. Such expansion would promote rules-based trade while creating greater prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region, including through the CPTPP’s high-standard commitments on tariff elimination, labour, and the environment.
Canada and the United Kingdom have also committed to enter into new bilateral free trade agreement negotiations. Both the bilateral negotiations and the United Kingdom’s possible accession to the CPTPP present opportunities for Canada to further enhance its relationship with one of its largest trading partners.
More information
- Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) – Joint Ministerial Statement on the occasion of the Fourth Commission Meeting
- Decision by the Commission of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership regarding the United Kingdom’s Formal Request to Commence the Accession Process
- Report: Public Consultations on priorities for trade negotiations with the United Kingdom
- Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership
- Canada-United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement
Contact:
Alice Hansen
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade
613-612-0482
Alice.Hansen@international.gc.ca