TOKYO -- Asked about potential new members joining the 11-nation CPTPP trade bloc, New Zealand's Minister for Trade and Export Growth Damien O'Connor said in an exclusive interview in Tokyo with Nikkei Asia that "we're all keen for that process to conclude ... without deviating from the high standards."
Commenting on the U.K.'s request to join the bloc, formally known as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which is furthest along compared to other nations, he added: "We all hope to learn from ... the U.K. process as to what works well, what is fair, the level of formal and informal consultation that is required." China and Taiwan have also asked to join the trade pact.
