Home

China applies to join CPTPP trade pact

Colin Qian, Twinnie Siu and Tom DalyAAP
Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao has asked NZ Trade Minister Damien O'Connor to join the CPTPP.
Camera IconChinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao has asked NZ Trade Minister Damien O'Connor to join the CPTPP. Credit: AP

China has filed an application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, the country’s commerce ministry says.

Commerce Minister Wang Wentao submitted China’s application to join the free trade agreement in a letter to New Zealand Trade Minister Damien O’Connor, the Chinese ministry said in a statement.

The CPTPP was signed by 11 countries including Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan and New Zealand in 2018.

Before that, it was known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and seen as an important economic counterweight to China’s regional influence.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

It was central to then-US president Barack Obama’s strategic pivot to Asia but his successor Donald Trump withdrew the US from the pact in 2017.

Accession to the CPTPP would be a major boost for China following the signing of the 15-member Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade agreement last year.

China has lobbied for its inclusion in the pact, including by highlighting that the Chinese and Australian economies have enormous potential for cooperation.

However, relations between the two countries have soured.

The United Kingdom and Thailand have also signalled interest in joining the CPTPP.

Wang and O’Connor held a telephone conference to discuss the next steps following China’s application, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails