China pushes for Asia-Pacific trade agreement membership, promises to ‘actively attract’ foreign investment

CPTPP membership requires approval from all member countries, namely Canada, Mexico, Peru, Chile, New Zealand, Australia, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Japan and the United Kingdom.

Stephen Olson, a senior research fellow at the Hinrich Foundation, said China’s application to join the regional free trade agreement raised geopolitical issues.

“Correctly or incorrectly, the original TPP agreement was perceived as a US-led grouping designed to push back against China’s rising influence in the region,” he said.

“It would now be ironic if China ultimately ends up in the agreement while the US remains on the sidelines.”