UK Accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership: Entry into Force

Douglas Alexander Excerpts

Monday 2nd September 2024 Written Statements

[The Minister for Trade Policy and Economic Security (Mr Douglas Alexander)]

The comprehensive and progressive agreement for trans-Pacific partnership is set to enter into force for the UK by 15 December 2024. This follows Peru’s ratification of the UK’s accession protocol to the agreement.

The accession protocol sets out that the agreement will enter into force for the UK 60 days after all parties and the UK have each notified the CPTPP depositary. Notification would follow the completion of relevant domestic procedures. However, after 15 months have passed since signature (which falls in mid-October 2024), the mechanism changes and the protocol can enter into force 60 days after a minimum of six parties and the UK have each notified. If at least six parties and the UK have already notified within 15 months of signature, entry into force would take place 60 days after the October date. Given that Peru is the sixth party to notify its ratification, we currently expect the UK’s accession to CPTPP to enter into force by 15 December 2024.

Before Peru, five other CPTPP parties had already ratified the terms of the UK’s accession, including Japan, Singapore, Chile, New Zealand and Vietnam. This means that the agreement will come into force between the UK and those parties by the end of the year, and with other parties depending on when they ratify. The UK continues to work closely with remaining parties, who are completing their own processes as quickly as possible.

This Department is helping British businesses ready themselves to take full advantage of the opportunities CPTPP presents. As the first country to accede to this agreement, the UK will be perfectly positioned to shape its future development, from influencing the future development of the CPTPP rulebook to championing the group’s expansion to new economies.

[HCWS56]