Suga, Japanese Prime Minister, "South Korea and China Joining CPTPP Difficult Without Consent of Existing Members"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Son Sun-hee] Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga stated on the 11th that South Korea and China must obtain the consent of existing member countries to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Prime Minister Suga appeared on the internet video channel "Niconico" live broadcast on the same day and reportedly said regarding President Moon Jae-in and Chinese President Xi Jinping recently opening the possibility of joining the CPTPP, "Without the consent of the 11 (existing) member countries, it is not easy to join." He added that there is a "big hurdle" for new membership and said, "We will respond strategically."

The CPTPP is a free trade agreement (FTA) renamed after the United States, which was the leading country in the former Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), withdrew. There are expectations that the new U.S. administration under Joe Biden will seek to rejoin. Accordingly, it is highly likely that our country, as an ally, will also push to join in step.

Prime Minister Suga's remarks on the CPTPP on this day were the first official response following President Moon and President Xi's mention of the possibility of CPTPP participation.

Japanese local media interpreted Prime Minister Suga's remarks as reaffirming the Japanese government's existing position that "high-level rule compliance" is a prerequisite for new membership. Earlier, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato also emphasized that while "expressions of interest from various countries and regions are welcome," CPTPP member countries are required to maintain "high-level market access and rule arrangements," which is in the same context.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.