Question Period Note: Taiwan's interest in joining the CPTPP

Taiwan has publicly expressed interest in acceding to the CPTPP.

• The Government of Canada is committed to diversifying trade and investment and strengthening Canada's ties with its Asia-Pacific partners

• The CPTPP is designed for expansion and provides Canada an opportunity to secure new access in the Asia-Pacific region

• The Government of Canada welcomes the interest in accessions of economies that are able to meet the high standard rules and ambitious market access commitments of the CPTPP

• No economy has formally applied to accede to the CPTPP

• The Government of Canada will make decisions on accessions that are in the best interest of Canadians.

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is a trading block that represents 500 million people with a combined gross domestic product of CAD $13.5 trillion - a full 13.5% of global GDP. Through the CPTPP, Canada has preferential access to half a billion consumers in some of the world's most dynamic and fast-growing markets, which will strengthen Canadian businesses, grow the economy, and create more well-paying jobs for middle class Canadians.

The CPTPP entered into force for the first six countries to ratify the Agreement - Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, and Singapore - on December 30, 2018, and for Vietnam on January 14, 2019. For the remaining signatories (Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, and Peru), the CPTPP will enter into force 60 days after that country ratifies the Agreement.

The CPTPP is designed to expand to include new economies. As of May 25, 2020, Thailand, the United Kingdom, South Korea and Taiwan have all expressed informal interest in accession, but none have formally applied.

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