The thirteenth round of negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement was held on 2-10 July 2012in San Diego, California. Australia, along with TPP negotiating partners Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam, made important progress at the round and further moved negotiations on chapter texts closer to conclusion.
Good progress was made in the customs, cross-border services, telecommunications, government procurement, competition policy, and cooperation and capacity building working groups. Other negotiating groups which moved forward significantly included rules of origin, investment, financial services, and temporary entry.
Negotiating parties continued discussions on ambitious market access outcomes relating to both goods and services including to maximise opportunities for regional supply chains. Negotiators also discussed specific commitments on liberalisation of markets for services.
Over 300 registered stakeholders participated in events in San Diego, including representatives of Australian NGOs and businesses. A forum was held on 2 July allowing a wide range of interested parties to meet directly with negotiators to discuss specific issues relating to the TPP. Australian negotiators also attended formal presentations by stakeholders who had particular interests in the TPP. Further events included a stakeholder briefing by Chief Negotiators. Australian negotiators also used the opportunity to conduct meetings with interested stakeholders in the margins of the round.
As announced in June, Mexico and Canada will join the TPP negotiations once all current TPP members successfully conclude their domestic procedures. In early July, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) notified Congress of its plans to enter negotiations with Mexico and Canada as part of the TPP. This triggered a 90-day consultation period where USTR will discuss negotiating objectives with Congress relating to these new members.
The next round of TPP negotiations will take place in Leesburg, Virginia in the United States on 6-15 September 2012. Further information about public events surrounding this round of negotiations will be provided on the DFAT website when available.