The meeting was chaired by Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Shigeyuki Goto, who is also Chairman of the U.K.’s Accession Working Group (AWG), and drew the attendance of ministers and representatives of the CPTPP members - Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam - and the U.K.
The participants confirmed that the U.K. has provided commercially meaningful market access offers of the highest standard on goods, services, investment, financial services, government procurement, state-owned enterprises, and temporary entry for business persons.
They agreed on the means by which the U.K. will comply with the existing rules contained in the CPTPP. The countries pledged to work together to prepare and verify the legal instrument of the accession.
They hailed Vietnam’s successful hosting of the negotiations for the accession in late February and early March, which contributed to the substantial conclusion of the process.
Addressing the event, Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien expressed his delight that the CPTPP members and the U.K. have reached positive results in this round of negotiation and promptly released the joint statement at the ministerial level on the substantial conclusion of negotiations on the U.K.'s accession to the CPTPP.
He confirmed Vietnam’s support for the U.K.’s finalization of procedures to join the CPTPP.
The CPTPP is one of the most comprehensive and ambitious trade deals ever concluded. It is also one of the largest trade pacts in the world, covering 13.5% of global GDP and a market of about 500 million people.
Source: VNA