China has now formally applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact. The country apparently wants to take the lead in trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific in place of the U.S., which withdrew from what was then called the Trans-Pacific Partnership before it was finalized.
But is China, a country defined by communist authoritarianism and mixed state capitalism, prepared to accept the high level of liberalization demanded by the CPTPP? The current 11 member countries must fully determine the sincerity behind China's request.
