Policy paper

Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) General Review Report: final recommendations, 21 November 2025

Published 21 November 2025

Recalling the Terms of Reference for Conducting the General Review of CPTPP endorsed on 15 November 2023 under New Zealand’s chair year, and the shared objectives for the first General Review of the Agreement, including our commitment to review the operation of the CPTPP to ensure the disciplines contained in the Agreement remain relevant to the trade and investment issues and challenges confronting the Parties.

Taking into account the recommendations of the Interim Report by Senior Officials to Ministers on Progress on the General Review of the CPTPP, endorsed on 28 November 2024, and the comprehensive assessments completed under Canada’s stewardship of CPTPP, all of which underpinned the recommendations presented in this General Review Report.

Further recalling Ministers’ instructions to Senior Officials in Jeju, the Republic of Korea, on 16 May 2025, and the commitment to ensure the CPTPP remains of high standard and fit-for-purpose in addressing evolving challenges.

CPTPP Senior Officials have hereby completed this General Review Report (‘the Report’) which marks the completion of the first review of the CPTPP, as per Articles 27.1.2(b), 27.2.3 and 27.2.4 of the Agreement, and present to the Commission the recommendations listed below to update and enhance the Agreement, including through negotiations or enhanced cooperation between the Parties.

Accordingly, we recommend to the Commission that officials commence negotiations, on a without prejudice basis, on the following provisions and/or initiatives that relate to:

• customs administration and trade facilitation: including provisions on the:
  • authorised economic operators
  • post clearance
  • use of customs brokers
  • commitment to consistency of customs procedures
  • establishment of a dedicated customs committee
  • possible updates to existing provisions on advance rulings, review and appeal, automation, release of goods, publication and confidentiality
• trade in services:
  • cross-border trade in services: including enhancements to address evolving trade in services, including domestic regulation
  • financial services: subject to consensus of all Parties, including enhancements to the chapter to reflect developments in sustainable finance, cross-border data flows, transparency, domestic regulation, and e-payments
• electronic commerce: including provisions in areas such as on artificial intelligence, digital identities, online safety, and e-payments, and upgrading existing rules on issues including data flows, cybersecurity, and consumer protection
• competitiveness and business facilitation: including provisions for the strengthening of supply chain resilience based on shared principles, such as for crisis coordination; consideration of enhanced cooperation to support integration into global and regional value chains
• trade and women’s economic empowerment: including non-binding, cooperative provisions or a possible new chapter to advance women’s participation and leadership in trade, complemented by gender mainstreaming across CPTPP committees

We recognise the CPTPP is a living Agreement, capable of delivering sustainable and inclusive economic growth while addressing new and emerging issues through cooperation and collaboration. Accordingly, we recommend that officials:

• investment: progress technical discussions for:
  • a joint interpretative declaration on the dominant and effective nationality principle
  • a joint interpretative declaration that may apply to the National Treatment, Most-Favoured-Nation Treatment, and Minimum Standard of Treatment articles, and the right to regulate
  • a decision to recognise the UNCITRAL Model Provisions on Mediation for International Investment Disputes (2023) as a non-binding reference for Parties to consider using for the consultation phase of the Investor-State Dispute Settlement mechanism in the Investment Chapter
• state-owned enterprises (SOEs): undertake a member-led study on the relevance of modern treaty practice and OECD guidelines to the SOE definition with a view to assessing the necessity of any textual updates
• innovation: continue discussions to address specific challenges or opportunities that arise from innovation and technology and determine on terms of reference and a work plan for future engagement
• gender mainstreaming: develop principles that provide high-level, non-binding guidance to CPTPP committees and working groups on areas to focus attention to improve women’s economic empowerment and leadership, promote women-led businesses and encourage the removal of barriers to trade and investment for women entrepreneurs
• economic coercion: consistent with, and building upon the Vancouver Statement, establish a platform for Parties’ dialogue to share information on economic coercion, coordinate responses, and strengthen collective resilience
• market distorting practices: establish a platform for Parties’ dialogue to deepen understanding of market-distorting practices, promote cooperation, and identify recommendations for next steps

Next steps

Senior officials recommend that relevant committees, working groups and subsidiary bodies adhere to the following parameters to implement the Report’s recommendations:

• to meet in the first quarter of 2026 to develop an implementation workplan for endorsement by Senior Officials which outlines expected timeframes for negotiations to conclude and/or for cooperative activities to be undertaken
• progress on implementation of the Report’s recommendations to be reported to the CPTPP Commission when it next meets, and in any case no later than the end of 2026