CPTPP Opens Preliminary Talks for Indonesia, Philippines, and UAE Membership

Tokyo (ANTARA) - Member nations of the Trans-Pacific free trade pact will commence ‘preliminary discussions’ to pave the way for the membership of Indonesia, the Philippines, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to a joint ministerial statement on Friday.

In an online meeting, the 12 members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) agreed on the policy as an initial step towards formal accession negotiations.

Indonesia has submitted its application to join the CPTPP and will now enter the preliminary discussion phase alongside the Philippines and UAE.

To join, applicant countries must meet various standards, including the elimination of tariffs on a wide range of goods and compliance with intellectual property protection rules. All members must also agree to the start of accession negotiations.

The CPTPP has for the first time established a framework for preliminary discussions prior to formal negotiations. The pact also sets out a mechanism to review the domestic systems and trade rules of applicant countries against CPTPP standards.

Cambodia submitted its membership application in November 2025, while Argentina applied earlier this month.

The role of the CPTPP as a free trade framework is considered increasingly important amid rising global protectionism, including high US tariff policies and economic pressure from China.

Member countries also issued a statement emphasising the importance of cooperation in the energy sector in response to the crisis in the Middle East.

The CPTPP came into effect in 2018 after the United States withdrew during President Donald Trump’s first term. Current CPTPP members comprise Australia, Brunei, Chile, the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, New Zealand, Singapore, and Vietnam.