China's entry to CPTPP trade pact is closer than you think

Beijing's application to join 11-nation partnership has been long in the making

Henry Gao and Weihuan Zhou

September 20, 2021 17:00 JST

China's entry to the CPTPP trade pact will not be easy, requiring the agreement of all existing members, including countries experiencing strained ties with Beijing such as Canada and Australia. © Reuters

Henry Gao is associate professor of law at Singapore Management University and Dongfang Scholar Chair Professor at the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade. Associate professor Weihuan Zhou is director of research at the Herbert Smith Freehills CIBEL Centre at the law and justice faculty at UNSW Sydney.