Eighth CPTPP Commission Meeting

29 November 2024

Ministers and representatives of the 12 CPTPP members, including Australia, participated in the Eighth CPTPP Commission meeting in Vancouver, Canada on 28 November 2024.

The Joint Ministerial Statement released by the Commission highlighted the work progressed by the Membership on the General Review during Canada’s year as Chair in 2024.  

Australia will take on the chairing role of the CPTPP in 2025.

Seventh CPTPP Commission Meeting

16 July 2023

Ministers and Senior Officials representing the 11 CPTPP members participated in the Seventh CPTPP Commission meeting in Auckland, New Zealand on 16 July. Australia was represented by the Assistant Minister for Trade and Assistant Minister for Manufacturing, Senator the Hon Tim Ayres.

The Seventh CPTPP Commission meeting was an opportunity to reflect on the continuing implementation of the Agreement. It was the first Commission meeting where all original signatories had ratified the agreement and were able to participate as full parties.

The Membership also welcomed the United Kingdom as the CPTPP’s newest signatory.

The Joint Ministerial Statement highlighted the work undertaken throughout 2023, including ongoing work on promoting mutually supportive trade and environmental policies; the Commission's decision to establish an ad-hoc working group under Chapter 5 (Customs Administration and Trade Facilitation); and progress the third-year general review as per Article 27.2(b) of the CPTPP.

Canada will host the next CPTPP Commission in 2024.

Sixth CPTPP Commission Meeting

8 October 2021

Ministers and Senior Officials representing the 11 CPTPP members participated in the sixth CPTPP Commission meeting in Singapore on 8 October 2022, the first in person meeting since 2019. Australia was represented by the Assistant Minister for Trade, Senator the Hon Tim Ayres.

The sixth CPTPP Commission meeting was an opportunity for the Commission to reflect on implementation of the Agreement against the backdrop of COVID-19 economic recovery and increasing global uncertainty. The Commission welcomed the news of Malaysia's ratification of the CPTPP, which saw the Agreement enter into force for Malaysia on 29 November 2022; and noted the growing interest from aspirant economies to accede to the CPTPP. 

In its Joint Ministerial Statement, the Commission highlighted the work undertaken throughout 2022, which included the ongoing work on the United Kingdom accession process; the commencement of work on the third-year general review of the CPTPP; increased cooperation on the digital economy and the green economy; and the steady implementation of the Agreement, including the work of the 13 subsidiary bodies who met virtually throughout 2022.

New Zealand will host the next CPTPP Commission in 2023.

Fifth CPTPP Commission Meeting

1 September 2021

Ministers and Senior Officials representing the 11 CPTPP signatories participated in the fifth CPTPP Commission meeting held virtually and hosted by Japan on 1 September 2021. Australia was represented by the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, the Hon. Dan Tehan MP.

The fifth CPTPP Commission meeting was an opportunity for the Commission to reflect on implementation of the Agreement and its contribution to the global economy since its entry into force on 31 December 2018.

The Commission issued a joint statement highlighting in particular the welcome news of Peru’s ratification of the CPTPP, which will see the Agreement enter into force for Peru on 19 September 2021; the importance of the CPTPP in supporting recovery from COVID-19; the Commission’s decision to establish a committee on electronic commerce; progress on the accession process with the United Kingdom; and the steady implementation of the Agreement, including the work of the 17 subsidiary bodies who met virtually throughout 2021.

Singapore will host the next CPTPP Commission in 2022.

Fourth CPTPP Commission Meeting

2 June 2021

Ministers from the 11 CPTPP signatories participated in the fourth CPTPP Commission meeting held virtually and hosted by Japan on 2 June 2021. Australia was represented by the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, the Hon. Dan Tehan MP.

The purpose of the fourth Commission meeting was to consider the United Kingdom’s formal request to accede to the CPTPP. The Commission agreed to commence accession negotiations with the UK and establish an accession working group, adopting the following decision:

• Decision by the Commission regarding the UK's formal request to commence accession negotiations, pursuant to Article 5 (Accession), Article 27.2 (Functions of the Commission), Article 27.3 (Decision Making) and Article 27.4 (Rules of Procedure of the Commission) of the CPTPP, and the Accession Process in the Annex to the Decision of 19 January, 2019 CPTPP/COM/2019/D002

The Commission also released a Joint Ministerial Statement on 2 June 2021.

Third CPTPP Commission Meeting

6 August 2020

Ministers and Senior Officials from the 11 CPTPP signatories participated in the third CPTPP Commission meeting held virtually and hosted by Mexico on 5 August 2020 / 6 August AEST. Australia was represented by the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham.

The CPTPP Commission issued a joint statement on 6 August 2020, emphasising the importance of full implementation of the Agreement and cooperation on COVID-19 economic recovery. The Commission instructed Senior Officials to work towards establishment of a committee on digital trade, and to consider a consolidated plan to advance work on CPTPP-focussed initiatives to respond to COVID-19.

Ahead of the Commission meeting, the following committees met for the second time: Trade in Goods; Rules of Origin; Agricultural Trade; Technical Barriers to Trade; Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures; Small and Medium Sized Enterprises; State Owned Enterprises; Development; Cooperation and Capacity Building; Competitiveness and Business Facilitation; Environment. The committees for Textiles and Apparel Trade; Financial Services; and Regulatory Coherence, and the Professional Services Working Group met for the first time.

The CPTPP Commission will meet again in Japan in 2021.

Second CPTPP Commission Meeting

9 October 2019

Representatives from the 11 CPTPP signatories participated in the second CPTPP Commission meeting in Auckland on 9 October 2019.

The CPTPP Commission made the following decisions:

• A decision on the Commission Rules of Procedure [PDF 516 KB] under Article 27.4; and
• A decision to establish a Roster of Panel Chairs [PDF 548 KB] as provided for under Article 28.11.

Members of the CPTPP Commission also issued a joint statement [PDF 416 KB] on 9 October 2019.

Alongside the Commission, the following Committees met for the first time in Auckland: Trade in Goods; Rules of Origin; Agricultural Trade; Technical Barriers to Trade; Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures; Small and Medium Sized Enterprises; State Owned Enterprises; Development; Cooperation and Capacity Building; Competitiveness and Business Facilitation; Environment; and the Labour Council.

The CPTPP Commission will meet again in Mexico in 2020.

First CPTPP Commission Meeting

19 January 2019

The first CPTPP Commission meeting was held in Tokyo on 19 January 2019. The CPTPP Commission is the decision-making body of the CPTPP, which was established when the CPTPP entered into force on 30 December 2018.

The CPTPP Commission made the following decisions:

• A decision about the chairing and administrative arrangements [PDF 91 KB] for the Commission and special transitional arrangements for 2019;
• A decision [PDF 81 KB] to establish the accession process [PDF 98 KB] for interested economies to join the CPTPP;
• A decision [PDF 82 KB] to create rules of procedure [PDF 187 KB] and a code of conduct [PDF 114 KB] for disputes involving Parties to the CPTPP; and
• A decision [PDF 81 KB] to create a code of conduct [PDF 138 KB] for investor-State dispute settlement.

Members of the CPTPP Commission also issued a joint ministerial statement [PDF 91 KB].