The UK is starting talks to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership ( #CPTPP)

One way of finding out what it is: look at the text.

Here goes.

It doesn’t have a Secretariat so the text is published by each govt. Google “CPTPP text”

1/13

New Zealand is a good place to start. It has the text by chapter, 30 of them: https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/trade/free-trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements-in-force/cptpp/comprehensive-and-progressive-agreement-for-trans-pacific-partnership-text-and-resources/

(Canada has summaries by chapter: https://www.international.gc.ca/trade-commerce/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/cptpp-ptpgp/chapter_summaries-sommaires_chapitres.aspx?lang=eng)

#CPTPP

2/13

“Wow! 30 chapters. Better start reading”

“Hang on. There’s more.”

https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/trade/free-trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements-in-force/cptpp/comprehensive-and-progressive-agreement-for-trans-pacific-partnership-text-and-resources/

#CPTPP

3/13

“Right. Is that it?”

“Those are only the side agreements involving New Zealand. Here are Australia’s”

https://www.dfat.gov.au/trade/agreements/in-force/cptpp/official-documents/Pages/official-documents

#CPTPP

4/13

“Er, how many members does #CPTPP have?”

"Eleven.

“Don’t worry. We’re not going through all the side agreements.

“But these next bits are important. The Annexes. Annex 2-D contains the tariff commitments of each country.”

https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/trade/free-trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements-in-force/cptpp/comprehensive-and-progressive-agreement-for-trans-pacific-partnership-text-and-resources/

#CPTPP

5/13

“And there are side deal in the tariff commitments too?”

“Yes. Some details, then. Here’s Japan’s commitment on tariffs. It’s 1,133 pages! And, for example, there are tariff quotas on beef, some still with an in-quota tariff after 21 years. https://www.mfat.govt.nz/assets/Trade-agreements/TPP/Annexes-ENGLISH/2-D.-Japan-Tariff-Elimination-Schedule.pdf”

#CPTPP

6/13

“So not always duty-free.”

“Correct, but most is. And Japan has some stuff on price differentials.”

“Meaning?”

“Don’t ask me! Looks like some combination of options used for proof of origin and corresponding tariffs. See for yourself.”

https://www.mfat.govt.nz/assets/Trade-agreements/TPP/Annexes-ENGLISH/2-D.-Japan-Appendix-C-Tariff-Differentials.pdf

#CPTPP

7/13

“Pure poetry”

“More of your ‘poetry’ in the Canada-Japan deal on vehicle tariffs. Looks like an ‘MFN’ provision, so favourable terms for others in #CPTPP on regulations etc have to be matched between the two, plus something on safeguard tariffs.”

https://www.mfat.govt.nz/assets/Trade-agreements/TPP/Annexes-ENGLISH/2-D.-Canada-Appendix-D-Appendix-between-Japan-and-Canada-on-Motor-Vehicle-Trade.pdf

8/13

“Now our favourite subject. Rules of origin, to be ‘made in’ a #CPTPP country and qualify for zero/lower duty. The main text has general rules. The 212-page appendix has variations for specific products https://www.mfat.govt.nz/assets/Trade-agreements/CPTPP/Annex-3-D.-Product-Specific-Rules-of-Origin.pdf. 3 pages for vehicles https://www.mfat.govt.nz/assets/Trade-agreements/TPP/Annexes-ENGLISH/Appendix-1-to-Annex-3-D.-Provisions-related-to-the-Product-Specific-Rules-of-Origin-for-certain-vehicles-and-parts-of-vehicles.pdf”

9/13

“And more rules of origin, this time for textiles products https://www.mfat.govt.nz/assets/Trade-agreements/TPP/Annexes-ENGLISH/Annex-4-A.-Textiles-and-Apparel-Product-Specific-Rules-of-Origin.pdf

“Oh and something called a ‘short supply list’. No I haven’t read it. https://www.mfat.govt.nz/assets/Trade-agreements/TPP/Annexes-ENGLISH/Appendix-1-to-Annex-4-A.-Short-Supply-List-of-Products.pdf”

#CPTPP

10/13

“That’s it?”

“No. You’re forgetting services”

“Everyone forgets services”

“Some details on temporary entry for services professionals, known as ‘mode 4’. And government procurement commitments, like buying vaccines and nuclear reactors”

https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/trade/free-trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements-in-force/cptpp/comprehensive-and-progressive-agreement-for-trans-pacific-partnership-text-and-resources/

#CPTPP

11/13

“And they are followed by lots of exemptions from commitments on services. ‘Non-conforming’.”

https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/trade/free-trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements-in-force/cptpp/comprehensive-and-progressive-agreement-for-trans-pacific-partnership-text-and-resources/

#CPTPP

12/13

“Are we there yet?”

“Yes. Finally some tidying up documents.

“And that, my friend, is what Britain’s negotiation to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership ( #CPTPP) will involve.”

https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/trade/free-trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements-in-force/cptpp/comprehensive-and-progressive-agreement-for-trans-pacific-partnership-text-and-resources/

13/13