(VOVWORLD) -The Philippines and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Japanese government said on Monday, while South Korea is considering a similar move.
The Philippines and the UAE submitted their applications to New Zealand, which serves as the administrative center for the pact, in August, officials said.
The CPTPP framework eliminates tariffs on many goods and harmonizes rules on intellectual property and other areas.
The CPTPP now has 12 members – Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, and three G7 countries (Canada, Japan, and the UK) – with a combined population of 580 million people.
Costa Rica is in the accession talks. Eight other countries and regions, including the Philippines and the UAE, have applied and are waiting for negotiations, which need the approval of all 12 current members to start. The next CPTPP ministerial meeting, scheduled for later this year, could decide on new candidates.