In response to the new Biden administration in the United States and also the United Kingdom declaring it wants to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade agreement, an Australian parliamentary inquiry looking at the merits of expanding the CPTPP’s membership has extended the closing date for submissions to 16 April 2021.
Chair of the Trade Sub-Committee of the Joint Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee, Ted O’Brien, wants to allow more time for submissions to the inquiry.
“The election of the Biden administration and the new President’s longstanding support for trade liberalisation is no small matter,” said Mr O’Brien.
“Likewise, the UK’s declaration that it wishes to join the CPTPP is big news.
“These international events create a new context in which the topic of expanding the CPTPP’s membership should be considered, so I’ve decided to extend the closing date for submissions.”
The CPTPP agreement signed in 2018 is a trade bloc of 11 countries that includes Australia and is an export market of 500 million consumers worth nearly $14 trillion. The parliamentary inquiry will examine the scope for expanding the TPP beyond the existing membership of Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Vietnam, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia and Peru to include new members.
“It’s important that any new member can commit to the existing Agreement, including on issues such as standards and market access,” Mr O’Brien said.
Submissions from any person, businesses or organisations with an interest in the issues raised by these terms of reference are welcome. Submissions addressing all or some of the terms of reference should be lodged by 16 April 2021.
Further details about the about the inquiry, including terms of reference, details on how to contribute a submission and, when available, details of public hearings and roundtable discussions, can be obtained from the Committee’s website.
Media enquiries:
Mr Ted O’Brien MP, Sub-Committee Chair
Contact Peter Nugent 07 5479 2800
Mobile 0401 257 064
peter.nugent@aph.gov.au
For background:
Committee Secretariat
02 6277 2313
jscfadt@aph.gov.au
For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.
