List of Recommendations

Recommendation 1

3.41

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government continue to embrace an ambitious free trade agenda by working with other CPTPP members to expand the CPTPP to include new members that:

a)support an open, transparent and stable trading environment in the Indo-Pacific;

b)demonstrate an ability and willingness to meet the agreement’s high standards including a commitment to deliver against its rules and norms; and

c)offer export potential through enhanced market access.

Recommendation 2

4.33

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government works with other CPTPP members to leverage the process that applied to the United Kingdom as the first aspiring economy to formally request accession as a template for future aspirant economies while also learning lessons from the United Kingdom experience including the:

a)benefits that accrue from negotiating a bilateral FTA with the United Kingdom while concurrently encouraging and facilitating its accession to the CPTPP;

b)importance of government-to-government engagement during the CPTPP accession process, including at the ministerial level;

c)value of clear guidance on the CPTPP accession process such as deal stages and related expectations.

Recommendation 3

4.66

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government work with other CPTPP members to encourage and facilitate the accession of the United Kingdom to the CPTPP.

Recommendation 4

4.113

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government work with other CPTPP members to encourage China to re-establish full trading relations including ending its coercive trade measures and reengaging in ministerial dialogue, and to demonstrate an ability and willingness to commit to the CPTPP’s high standards, prior to supporting the commencement of an accession process.

Recommendation 5

4.214

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government work with other CPTPP members to encourage and facilitate the accession of Taiwan to the CPTPP and to consider negotiating a bilateral Taiwan-Australia FTA concurrently, noting the benefit of a similar approach taken with the United Kingdom.

Recommendation 6

4.227

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government work with other CPTPP members to support South Korea in submitting a formal request to accede to the CPTPP, and to provide encouragement and facilitation of its accession upon a formal request being submitted.

Recommendation 7

5.39

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government work with other CPTPP members to encourage the United States to renew its interest in the CPTPP.

Recommendation 8

5.84

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government work with other CPTPP members to encourage informal discussions with Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and other economies which have expressed an interest in acceding to the CPTPP.

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