On 16 July 2023, the UK government signed an accession protocol to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The CPTPP is a free trade agreement between 11 countries from the Asia-Pacific region and the Americas. On accession, the UK would become its 12th member: the first new member since the agreement was finalised in 2018 and the trading bloc’s first European member.
The government has stated that primary legislation is required for the UK to be compliant with the CPTPP when it enters into force. The purpose of the Trade (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) Bill [HL] is to implement the required legislation. The bill will make changes to domestic law in three areas:
- technical barriers to trade
- government procurement
- intellectual property