CPTPP considers setting up secretariat

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which consists of 12 member countries, is considering setting up a secretariat, and the Japanese government intends to have this secretariat located in Japan.

Japan’s Sankei Shimbun reported that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is about to return to the White House and may adopt protectionist policies. In addition, as China’s economic threats such as trade restrictions increase, the burden on the CPTPP rotating chair is bound to increase, and it is necessary to establish a permanent support system.

CPTPP (formerly TPP) will make adjustments to the content of the agreement for the first time since its establishment in 2018. In the future, member states will set up a special working group to discuss matters such as the establishment of the secretariat, and the content will be included in the report.

Currently, CPTPP has no permanent secretariat, and the rotating chair country is responsible for the secretariat functions. As for other international organizations, such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), its secretariat is located in Singapore; the US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) does not have a secretariat.

CPTPP is considering setting up a secretariat mainly because the burden on the rotating presidency will increase. In addition to general duties such as confirming the operation of the CPTPP agreement, the rotating presidency will also have to deal with the review of Costa Rica, which will begin accession negotiations in November 2024, and will also be responsible for the operation of the committee responsible for adjusting the content of the agreement.

In addition to the option of establishing a secretariat, other options are also being considered, including decentralizing the operations of the committee to member states to reduce the burden. However, a senior Japanese government official believes that if a decision is made to establish a secretariat, Japan should actively pursue it.

Trump has stated that if he returns to the White House, he will impose a 25% tariff on Mexico and Canada and an additional 10% tariff on China. The international community is concerned that the impact of protectionist trade policies will expand. If the CPTPP, which aims to form a highly free trade zone, wants to maintain its centripetal force, it must strengthen its system.

In 2026, Vietnam, which tends to support China’s participation, will serve as the rotating chair.

The report said that relevant sources pointed out that “it is becoming increasingly important for member states to strengthen unity and adhere to the attitude of safeguarding the rules of free trade.”

The United Kingdom officially became the 12th member of the CPTPP in December 2024, and the CPTPP expanded into an economic circle with an economic scale of US$14.7 trillion (approximately NT$480 trillion) and accounting for approximately 15% of the global gross domestic product (GDP).