Ukraine asks to join CPTPP trade pact, Japan and New Zealand say
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Ukraine has submitted its request to join the trade pact to New Zealand, said Japan's economy minister.
PHOTO: ST FILE
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TOKYO – Ukraine has submitted its request to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to New Zealand, said the Japanese and New Zealand authorities on Friday.
New Zealand, which performs the legal depositary functions for the partnership, had received a formal accession request from Ukraine on May 5, a New Zealand Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
The next steps in the application process would be determined by all members of the CPTPP, who are due to meet in Auckland on July 16, the spokesman said.
The CPTPP comprises Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam, with Britain becoming the 12th member state.
China, Taiwan, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Uruguay also have requests to join pending.
Japanese Economy Minister Shigeyuki Goto told a regular press conference that Japan, as a CPTPP member, “must carefully assess whether Ukraine fully meets the high level of the agreement” in terms of market access and rules. REUTERS
