The Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (JSCFADT) has tabled its report on Expanding the membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Media release issue date: Thursday, 10 February 2022

United Kingdom, Taiwan and South Korea – ‘Yes’ China – ‘re-establish relations before consideration’ US – ‘time to renew interest’ The Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (JSCFADT) has tabled its report on Expanding the membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Mr Ted O’Brien MP, Chair of the Trade Sub-Committee, said, “Australia should support the expansion of the CPTPP to include new members, but not unconditionally.” 'Only aspiring economies that support an open, transparent and stable trading environment and those that demonstrate an ability and willingness to meet the agreement’s high standards should be considered,' Mr O’Brien said. 'The CPTPP is one of the world’s most comprehensive trade agreements and its quality must be maintained,' said Mr O’Brien on tabling the report in the House of Representatives. Among the Committee’s recommendations was that the Australian Government work with other CPTPP members to encourage and facilitate the accession of the United Kingdom, Taiwan and South Korea. 'The UK was the first to apply to join the CPTPP and the process it’s going through can be a template for other future aspirants,' said Mr O’Brien. The Committee’s recommendation on Taiwan went one step further, suggesting the government also consider negotiating a bilateral Taiwan-Australia FTA. 'A lesson from our experience with the UK is that benefits accrue from negotiating a bilateral FTA and the CPTPP at the same time, and we see merit in replicating this approach with Taiwan,' stated Mr O’Brien. On China, the Committee recommended 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'. 'The ball is in their court,' said Mr O’Brien. 'It’s up to China if it wishes to re-engage with Australia and I hope it does because that would enable the discussions that are necessary to determine whether an accession process should commence,' Mr O’Brien said. The United States has not sought to join the CPTPP since it withdrew from negotiations under President Trump. Nevertheless, the Committee recommended that the Australian Government work with other CPTPP members to encourage the US to renew its interest. The Committee also recommended ongoing informal discussions with other economies that have expressed an interest in joining the CPTPP including Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. A copy of the report and further information about the inquiry is available from the Committee’s website. Media enquiries Mr Ted O’Brien MP, Sub-Committee Chair Contact: Mitchell Bland on 0401 257 064 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 2313 jscfadt@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Australia will appear at an Australian parliamentary inquiry to explain Taiwan’s interest in becoming a member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Media release issue date: Tuesday, 12 October 2021

The representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Australia will appear at an Australian parliamentary inquiry to explain Taiwan’s interest in becoming a member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Sub-Committee Chair, Member for Fairfax Ted O’Brien said he looks forward to hearing from the representatives of Taiwan. “Only three prospective members have lodged a formal application to join the CPTPP – the United Kingdom, the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan,” Mr O’Brien said.  “The Committee has received an overwhelming number of submissions in support of Taiwan acceding into the CPTPP.  “This hearing provides an opportunity for Taiwan’s top diplomat to prosecute Taiwan’s own case for joining this vitally important trade agreement.”  The CPTPP agreement signed in 2018 is a trade bloc of 11 countries that includes Australia and is an export market of 500 million consumers worth nearly $14 trillion. The parliamentary inquiry by the Trade Sub-Committee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade will examine the scope for expanding the CPTPP beyond the existing membership of Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Vietnam, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia and Peru and the merits of quite different economies seeking to join the trade bloc such as the People’s Republic of China, the United Kingdom and the most recent applicant Taiwan. The committee has heard previously from a range of corporations, business chambers and individuals in both Australia and in Taiwan such as the representatives of the Australia-Taiwan Business Council, the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce in Australia, Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce in Oceania, the Australia New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Taipei, Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association Taiwan, the CPC Corporation Taiwan, and the Bankers Association of the R.O.C and many others seeking closer trade links. Further details about the about the inquiry, including today’s program and the terms of reference, details of past public hearings and roundtable discussions, can be obtained from the Committee’s website. Media Contact: Mitch Bland, 0401 257 064

Representatives of the Australia-Taiwan Business Council appear today ahead of two days of public hearings for inquiry looking at merits of expanding membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Media release issue date: Thursday, 30 September 2021

The representatives of the Australia-Taiwan Business Council will appear today ahead of two days of public hearings for an Australian parliamentary inquiry looking at the merits of expanding the membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The CPTPP agreement signed in 2018 is a trade bloc of 11 countries that includes Australia and is an export market of 500 million consumers worth nearly $14 trillion. The parliamentary inquiry will examine the scope for expanding the CPTPP beyond the existing membership of Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Vietnam, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia and Peru to include new members. Today’s public hearing is with representatives of the Australia-Taiwan Business Council, Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce in Australia, Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce in Oceania, Melbourne Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce, Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce Western Australia, Asia Business Council Western Australia, Taiwanese Association of Australia, Melbourne Chapter, Queensland Federation of Taiwanese Associations, the Hon Mr Tony Abbott AC, Export Council of Australia, Standards Australia, DHL Express (Australia), Australia China Business Council, Dr M Shumi Akhtar, Perth USAsia Centre, Customs and Global Law and the Freight and Trade Alliance, and Article Three. Tomorrow’s public hearing is with Professor Gabriele Suder, and representatives of the Australian Sugar Milling Council, Australian British Chamber of Commerce, Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network, ActionAid, Australian Taiwanese Friendship Association, the Overseas Community Affairs Council, ROC (Taiwan), Australia New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Taipei, Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association Taiwan, Taiwanese Barley Products Industry Association, CPC Corporation Taiwan, and the Bankers Association of the R.O.C. Further details about the about the inquiry, including today’s program and the terms of reference, details of past public hearings and roundtable discussions, can be obtained from the Committee’s website. Media enquiries Mr Ted O’Brien MP, Sub-Committee Chair Contact the electorate office 07 5479 2800 Background Committee Secretariat 02 6277 2313 jscfadt@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page. 

Ambitious proposal for a new sports diplomacy mission dubbed ‘Team AusPac’ was tabled in Federal Parliament today, aimed at deepening ties between Australia and Pacific island countries.

Media release issue date: Wednesday, 1 September 2021

An ambitious proposal for a new sports diplomacy mission dubbed ‘Team AusPac’ was tabled in Federal Parliament today, aimed at deepening ties between Australia and Pacific island countries. Chair of the Australian Parliament’s Trade Sub-Committee, Ted O’Brien MP, announced the proposal which forms part of a Parliamentary Inquiry report entitled ‘One Region, One Family, One Future’. ‘Australia and Pacific island countries display an affinity for one another which goes well beyond our shared geography and common geostrategic and economic interests,’ said Mr O’Brien. ‘It may not be at the pointy end of international affairs, but you should never underestimate the importance of people to people relations which is a great strength of Australia’s relationship with Pacific island countries. ‘And sport is one of the key ingredients.’ Team AusPac would be an initiative spearheaded by the Australian Government, in partnership with relevant sporting organisations, and include the creation a special program for Pacific island athletes as part of the Australian Institute of Sport; an expansion of the number of sports to receive special focus under the PacificAus Sports program beyond netball, football and rugby union and league; a capacity building program for sporting coaches and trainers, and; support for a team from a Pacific island country to enter the National Rugby League (NRL) competition. ‘Team AusPac would also maximise opportunities for Pacific island countries to be closely associated with, and actively participate in, the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Australia,’ said Mr O’Brien who was Prime Minister Morrison’s personal representative on the bid team that recently secured the rights for Brisbane to host the 2032 Games. In all, the Inquiry’s report made five recommendations proposing that the Australian Government: prioritises its support for the Pacific region to recover from COVID-19 by increasing development assistance, providing vaccine coverage, assisting in the event of COVID-19 outbreaks and assessing opportunities to restore international trade and travel prioritises activation of greater trade and investment by considering measures and reforms to the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations, making it easier for Pacific islanders to access the Australian market, supporting further research into trade and investment, supporting the establishment of National Standard Bodies, supporting the Pacific Quality Infrastructure Initiative, promoting pilot investor tours to Pacific island countries and expanding Australia’s kava commercial importation pilot improves travel and mobility between Australia and countries of the Pacific region by establishing a Pacific travel bubble subject to health advice and processes, investigates potential for improving infrastructure, introduces a Pacific Business Travel Card, and improves labour mobility arrangements works towards deepening people-to-people ties between Australia and countries of the Pacific region through sport, churches and media – for example, through a new program called ‘Team AusPac’ maximises opportunities for Pacific island countries to be closely associated with, and actively participate in, the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Australia recognises the important role played by Australian states and territories in our relationship with Pacific island countries – in particular, the state of Queensland – and analyses the outcomes of this report within a Queensland context, undertakes a feasibility study on expanding the services of a Pacific-focused office of Department of Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade in Queensland, and engages the Queensland Government and relevant local government authorities to work collaboratively on aspects of this report.  ‘After 56 submissions and eight public hearing and roundtables with the diplomatic representatives of the Pacific island nations, I am confident that this report helps answer our questions and that our five recommendations are worthy of adoption by the Government,’ said Mr O’Brien. The full report can be viewed at: www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Foreign_Affairs_Defence_and_Trade/TradewithPacific/Report. Media enquiries Mr Ted O’Brien MP, Chair of the Trade Sub-Committee of the JSCFADT Contact: 0401 257 064

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will appear at the opening public hearing today for an Australian parliamentary inquiry looking at the merits of expanding the membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Media release issue date: Thursday, 17 June 2021

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will appear at the opening public hearing today for an Australian parliamentary inquiry looking at the merits of expanding the membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. The CPTPP agreement signed in 2018 is a trade bloc of 11 countries that includes Australia and is an export market of 500 million consumers worth nearly $14 trillion. The parliamentary inquiry will examine the scope for expanding the TPP beyond the existing membership of Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Vietnam, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia and Peru to include new members. Chair of the Trade Sub-Committee of the Joint Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee, Ted O’Brien, welcomed the opportunity to investigate the process of how the current members of the CPTPP can agree on expanding the trade pact to include other economies, and understanding what the benefits of new members joining will be. ‘On the back of this week’s historical agreement to progress a FTA with the United Kingdom, between Prime Ministers Morrison and Johnson, it is timely to consider expanding the most comprehensive plurilateral trade agreement in existence, the CPTPP,’ Mr O’Brien said. ‘Before we can assess the merits of aspiring economies that could accede to the CPTPP, it is important to baseline everyone’s understanding of the agreement, and that starts today when hearing from DFAT.’ Representatives of DFAT will appear at the public hearing at 9:50 am, Thursday 17 June 2021 in Committee Room 1R4, Parliament House. Further details about the about the inquiry, including terms of reference, details on how to contribute a submission and, when available, details of public hearings and roundtable discussions, can be obtained from the Committee’s website. Media enquiries: Mr Ted O’Brien MP, Sub-Committee Chair Contact Peter Nugent 07 5479 2800, mobile 0401 257 064 peter.nugent@aph.gov.au  For background: Committee Secretariat 02 6277 2313 jscfadt@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page. 

In response to the new Biden administration in the United States and also the United Kingdom declaring it wants to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade agreement, an Australian parliamentary inquiry looking at the merits of expanding the CPTPP’s membership has extended the closing date for submissions to 16 April 2021.

Media release issue date: Tuesday, 16 February 2021

In response to the new Biden administration in the United States and also the United Kingdom declaring it wants to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade agreement, an Australian parliamentary inquiry looking at the merits of expanding the CPTPP’s membership has extended the closing date for submissions to 16 April 2021. Chair of the Trade Sub-Committee of the Joint Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee, Ted O’Brien, wants to allow more time for submissions to the inquiry. “The election of the Biden administration and the new President’s longstanding support for trade liberalisation is no small matter,” said Mr O’Brien. “Likewise, the UK’s declaration that it wishes to join the CPTPP is big news. “These international events create a new context in which the topic of expanding the CPTPP’s membership should be considered, so I’ve decided to extend the closing date for submissions.” The CPTPP agreement signed in 2018 is a trade bloc of 11 countries that includes Australia and is an export market of 500 million consumers worth nearly $14 trillion. The parliamentary inquiry will examine the scope for expanding the TPP beyond the existing membership of Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Vietnam, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia and Peru to include new members. “It’s important that any new member can commit to the existing Agreement, including on issues such as standards and market access,” Mr O’Brien said. Submissions from any person, businesses or organisations with an interest in the issues raised by these terms of reference are welcome. Submissions addressing all or some of the terms of reference should be lodged by 16 April 2021. Further details about the about the inquiry, including terms of reference, details on how to contribute a submission and, when available, details of public hearings and roundtable discussions, can be obtained from the Committee’s website. Media enquiries: Mr Ted O’Brien MP, Sub-Committee Chair Contact Peter Nugent 07 5479 2800 Mobile 0401 257 064 peter.nugent@aph.gov.au  For background: Committee Secretariat 02 6277 2313 jscfadt@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

A new parliamentary inquiry will look into the merits of expanding the membership of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement.

Media release issue date: Friday, 13 November 2020

A new parliamentary inquiry will look into the merits of expanding the membership of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement. Chair of the Trade Sub-Committee of the Joint Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee, Ted O’Brien, says now is the time to look at the opportunity for freer trade between Australia and potential new members. ‘More trade equals more jobs and that’s precisely what we need right now,’ Mr O’Brien said. ‘The question is, who should we be trading more with and is the TPP the right vehicle to make it happen?’ said Mr O’Brien. ‘We will examine the case for expanding the TPP to include new members that can commit to the existing Agreement, including on issues such as standards and market access,’ Mr O’Brien said. ‘We want to examine whether the TPP can be a vehicle to realise freer trade opportunities for Australian exporters as we seek to not only increase trade, but also diversify our trading relationships.’ Signed in Chile in 2018, the agreement more formally known as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is a trade bloc of 11 countries that includes Australia, is an export market of 500 million consumers worth nearly $14 trillion. The agreement is now in force for most member states such as Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, and Vietnam, with Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia and Peru set to join after they complete their respective ratification processes. Importantly for Australia, this Agreement delivered its first ever trade deal with Canada and Mexico – both top 20 economies in the world. ‘As an example of one sector benefitting from the CPTPP, near $500 million or 16 per cent of Australia’s wine exports in 2019 went to CPTPP countries and winemakers are now benefitting from elimination of all Canada's tariffs on wine,’ Mr O’Brien said. Submissions from any person, businesses or organisations with an interest in the issues raised by these terms of reference are welcome. Submissions addressing all or some of the terms of reference should be lodged by 18 February 2021. Further details about the about the inquiry, including terms of reference, details on how to contribute a submission and, when available, details of public hearings and roundtable discussions, can be obtained from the Committee’s website. Media enquiries: Mr Ted O’Brien MP, Sub-Committee Chair Contact Ms Karlee Hooper 07 5479 2800 Mobile 0401 257 064 karlee.hooper@aph.gov.au For background: Committee Secretariat 02 6277 2313 jscfadt@aph.gov.au