CPTPP Roundtable

The New Zealand China Council (NZCC) recently joined the New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF) and the Centre for China and Globalization (CCG) for a virtual roundtable on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Our Chair John McKinnon and CCG President Dr Wang Huiyao co-chaired the roundtable. Five non-government representatives from New Zealand and China respectively discussed their perspectives on CPTPP provisions, challenges and opportunities in five areas: state-owned enterprises, digital trade, intellectual property, environment and labour and market access.

In his opening remarks John reiterated that the Council welcomes China’s interest in joining the CPTPP as a further step towards regional economic integration.  He also underlined that China will need to demonstrate its ability to meet the high standards agreed by existing CPTPP members, in the same way as all other CPTPP aspirants.

“A Roundtable like this not only helps to advance the CPTPP’s high-standard rules and further promote free trade, but shows our support to a fair, effective, inclusive and rules-based trading system” said John. “It is a demonstration of our shared commitment to the spread of effective and up to date trade rules in the Asia Pacific region as well as globally, even in these challenging times.”