Full text of the United Kingdom’s Accession to the CPTPP
20/02/2025 1640The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) was signed in March 2018 with 11 member countries. The United Kingdom is the first country outside the group of founding nations to join the Agreement. After submitting its accession application, the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland (hereinafter referred to as “the United Kingdom”) officially signed the CPTPP Accession Agreement on 16 July 2023, raising the total number of Agreement members to 12.
As of 16 October 2024, the United Kingdom and eight CPTPP countries (namely: Japan, Singapore, Chile, New Zealand, Vietnam, Peru, Malaysia, and Brunei) have completed the ratification of the Full text for the United Kingdom’s CPTPP Accession. Accordingly, in line with the regulations, the Full text of the United Kingdom’s CPTPP Accession has come into effect with these nine countries as of 15 December 2024. On 25 October 2024, Australia also ratified the Full text of United Kingdom’s CPTPP Accession, and this Full text has come into effect with Australia as of 24 December 2024.
Exports of goods from Vietnam in particular, and from all CPTPP member countries in general, to the United Kingdom are expected to benefit significantly thanks to the commitments to eliminate or reduce tariffs under the Agreement. The United Kingdom has offered a level of market openness that is superior to its existing bilateral free trade agreements with most CPTPP member countries (except Brunei and Malaysia), thereby creating a favorable pathway for member countries’ goods to access the United Kingdom market.
For Vietnam, the United Kingdom’s accession to the CPTPP is seen as a further boost to trade exchanges between the two countries, thanks to tariff commitments that are somewhat more favorable than those under the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA). Notably, after signing the Full text of CPTPP Accession, the United Kingdom officially recognized Vietnam as a market economy on 16 July 2023 – a move that carries significant implications for Vietnam’s exports.
The United Kingdom has committed to adhering to the terms of the CPTPP.
Contents of The Full text
Protocol of Accession (English)
Chapter 2: National Treatment and Market Access for Goods
Annex 2-D: Tariff Reduction Schedule
United Kingdom: General Note (English)
United Kingdom: Tariff Commitment Schedule (English)
United Kingdom: Annex A – Tariff Quotas (English)
Chapter 12: Temporary Entry for Business Visitors
Annex 12-A: Temporary Entry (English)
Chapter 15: Government Procurement
Annex 15-A: Government Procurement (English)
Annexes:
Annex I: Non-Conforming Measures on Cross-Border Trade in Services and Investment (English)
Annex II: Non-Conforming Measures on Cross-Border Trade in Services and Investment (English)
Annex III: Non-Conforming Measures on Financial Services (English)
In addition, the United Kingdom has also issued other documents related to its accession to the CPTPP. Below are some related documents:
UNITED KINGDOM ACCEDING TO THE CPTPP:
CPTPP Commission Decision on the Accession of the United Kingdom (English)
Report of The Accession Working Group (English)
United Kingdom Accedes to the CPTPP: Summary of the Agreement (English)
United Kingdom Accedes to the CPTPP: Impact Assessment (English)
United Kingdom Accedes to the CPTPP: Strategic Potential (English)