Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is a free trade agreement that was originally signed by 11 economies from the Asia-Pacific region, including New Zealand, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Singapore, and Viet Nam. It now spans 12 economies and is global in reach with the United Kingdom becoming the first economy to accede in July 2023. It is called progressive because it goes beyond reducing costs for businesses. Indeed, it includes commitments to safeguard high labor and environmental standards across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
The agreement contains provisions for the electronic submission and processing of customs information prior to the arrival of goods, the facilitation of electronic data sharing between governments, the electronic submission of manifests, the acceptance of electronic signatures and the acceptance of electronically submitted trade administration documents as the legal equivalent of the paper version of such documents.
Provisions relevant to the cross-border paperless trade:
- Chapter 5: Customs Administration and Trade Facilitation
- Chapter 14: Electronic commerce