China’s Efforts to Join Major Trade Bloc Face Prolonged Delays

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) accounts for approximately 15 percent of the global economy. Its current members include Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Peru, Chile, Mexico, Brunei, Singapore, Vietnam, and Malaysia. The United Kingdom is set to become the first new member to join the bloc, finalizing its accession on December 15.

Applications to join the CPTPP by Taiwan and China were submitted less than a week apart in September 2021. Since then, additional applications have come from Ukraine, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Indonesia.

“The challenge with Taiwan lies in the lack of consensus among certain members — particularly Malaysia and Singapore,” explained Vina Nadjibulla, vice-president at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. She further noted, “The group has decided that expansion will not operate on a first-come, first-serve basis.”

Nadjibulla also highlighted that “Costa Rica and Taiwan are the two most prepared applicants” to meet the rigorous standards of the trade agreement. However, Taiwan’s bid faces hurdles due to broader political tensions with China.

Countries such as Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia, which maintain close trade ties with China and consider Beijing a key economic partner, have publicly expressed their support for China’s membership in the bloc.