Press Releases
Signing of the Protocol on the Accession of the United Kingdom to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
July 16, 2023
- On July 16, Mr. Goto Shigeyuki, the Minister in charge of Economic Revitalization, who was dispatched as the special envoy of the Government of Japan, signed the Protocol on the accession of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) to the CPTPP, in Auckland, New Zealand.
- In the course of the negotiations on accession to the CPTPP, the UK has demonstrated the means by which the UK will comply with the existing rules contained in the CPTPP and has committed to commercially meaningful market access on goods, services and investment, financial services, temporary entry for business persons, government procurement etc. to the CPTPP parties. Based on the results of these negotiations, this Protocol establishes the legal framework which provides the terms and conditions of the UK's accession to the CPTPP.
- The UK’s accession to the CPTPP will contribute to further promotion of free trade, open and competitive markets, the rules-based trading system, and economic integration. It will be of great significance for further growth and development of trade and economy in the Pacific Rim region, including Japan, and beyond, and for the formation of the free and fair economic order in the world as a whole.
(Reference)Negotiations on the UK’s accession to the CPTPP
In February 2021, the UK notified its request to commence negotiations on acceding to the CPTPP. In June of the same year, a working group to negotiate the accession of the UK (the Accession Working Group) (chaired by Japan) was established. Negotiations regarding the UK's compliance with CPTPP obligations and market access were conducted, and were substantially concluded in March 2023.