Is Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ opening the door to China to join the CPTPP?
Members of the trans-Pacific trade bloc may be more inclined to allow China to join as they look to counter US tariff threats, analysts say
During his first term in office, US President Donald Trump swiftly moved to pull the United States out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership – an ambitious free trade agreement aimed at cementing America’s position in the Asia-Pacific region.
Now, the reinstated US leader may be opening the door to China to join the successor to that agreement, as countries around the world seek to counter his sweeping reciprocal tariff regime, analysts said.
Many expect the rest of the world to close ranks against the US as they seek to stand up to American threats, which could aid China in its long-standing application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
China applied to join the grouping in 2021, but its bid remains pending and the CPTPP’s members did not provide an update on the application during November’s joint ministerial meeting in Vancouver.
Though several members – including Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore – have voiced support for China’s bid, others are reportedly reluctant to allow Beijing to enter a group that was originally created to curtail its influence in the region.
But Trump’s tariff policies are causing governments to reassess their priorities, and that could make the CPTPP members more inclined to advance China’s bid, experts said. Any move to expand the bloc requires a unanimous vote by all 12 nations.