Summary

The UK has applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. We were joined by trade experts David Henig and Wendy Cutler to discuss the progress of the UK’s CPTPP application and the implications if China were to successfully join having applied in September 2021.

Both panellists have experience in working on international trade deals and have commented extensively on the CPTPP and its provisions. During the discussion, they unpacked the benefits that joining the trade bloc could bring to the UK, the regulations that may hinder China’s quest to join, and how existing members view both nations’ applications. The discussion also touched on Taiwan’s application and the possibility of the United States re-joining the agreement.

Speakers

Chair: Andrew Bowie MP
Wendy Cutler is Vice President at the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI). She was formerly Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, where she worked on the TTP.
David Henig is a UK trade policy expert and co-founder of the UK Trade Forum. He worked on UK negotiations for TTIP.

Read the full transcript here on our website.