The CPTPP is designed to expand its membership through accession and is open to accession by any economies that are able to meet the CPTPP’s rules and ambitious market access commitments, and who demonstrate a history of compliance with their existing trade obligations. All decisions related to accession must be taken by consensus of the CPTPP Parties. These three requirements, endorsed by CPTPP Ministers in 2023, are referred to as the “Auckland Principles”.
How does accession to the CPTPP work?
- CPTPP Accession Process (Government of Canada) (French)
Application: To join the CPTPP, applicants must formally notify New Zealand, the depositary of the treaty, of their request to commence accession negotiations. The applicant is also encouraged to notify all other CPTPP signatories informally. The CPTPP Commission will decide “within a reasonable period of time” if it begins the accession process with the aspirant economy. If the Commission decides to proceed, it will establish an Accession Working Group composed of government representatives from each party to negotiate the terms of accession with the applicant.
Negotiation: The aspirant economy will demonstrate to the Accession Working Group the efforts it made to date and highlight any changes it must make to its domestic laws and regulations to ensure compliance. Once the negotiations are complete, the working group will submit a report to the Commission outlining the terms and conditions of the applicant’s accession.
Approval: The Commission will determine unanimously whether to approve the applicant’s terms and conditions. If approved, the applicant will have six months to complete the reforms necessary for compliance with the trade agreement and formally sign the CPTPP with the depository, New Zealand.
Ratification: Once the aspirant economy has signed the CPTPP, each member state must undergo their respective ratification processes before the trade agreement enters into effect for the applicant.
Source: Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Fact Sheet (Chloe Yeung, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, January 2024)