The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is seeing renewed momentum as the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) submit formal applications to join the high-standard trade bloc. According to reports from Nikkei Asia citing Japanese officials, the two countries filed their requests with New Zealand in August 2025, marking the first accession bids since Indonesia’s in September 2024.
CPTPP’s Strategic Importance Grows
The CPTPP, successor to the original U.S.-backed Trans-Pacific Partnership, represents one of the largest free trade areas globally. With 12 member states—including Japan, Canada, Vietnam, and the United Kingdom—it accounts for over 500 million people and a combined GDP of $13.5 trillion.
The agreement facilitates comprehensive tariff reductions, harmonised standards, and trade liberalisation across continents. Since the U.S. withdrew from the pact in 2017, member states have doubled down on their commitment to an open, rules-based trade regime—offering an increasingly attractive platform for economies seeking diversification and resilience.
The Philippines and UAE now join a list of countries expressing serious interest, including Taiwan, Costa Rica, and South Korea. With geopolitical tensions and economic nationalism reshaping global trade flows, accession to the CPTPP is being viewed by many as a vital hedge.
Philippines Eyes Critical Market Access
The Philippines’ interest in the CPTPP gained urgency following increased trade friction with the United States. In mid-2025, the U.S. under President Donald Trump re-imposed tariffs on key Philippine exports—initially 17%, later raised to 19%—as part of a broader “liberation day” protectionist pivot. The Philippine Department of Trade and Industry confirmed the CPTPP application in May 2025, seeking to stabilise export markets and offset the damage from rising tariffs.
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry emphasised in a September statement that CPTPP membership is “critical” for the nation’s long-term economic strategy. Among key benefits: preferential access to countries with which Manila lacks bilateral agreements, including Canada, Mexico, Peru, and the United Kingdom. Currently, the Philippines trades with CPTPP members under standard WTO terms—offering no competitive tariff advantages.
Joining the CPTPP could unlock significant new flows of foreign direct investment, strengthen supply chain linkages, and position the Philippines more favourably in global value chains.
UAE Seeks Global Trade Diversification
For the UAE, CPTPP accession signals its intent to deepen ties with Asia-Pacific markets and reduce dependency on traditional Western partners. The Emirati economy, while still oil-dependent, is undergoing transformation via trade, finance, and logistics diversification.
Joining a bloc that includes high-tech powerhouses like Japan and Singapore, as well as Latin American suppliers like Chile and Peru, offers the UAE a broader platform to expand non-oil exports and solidify its logistics and re-export hub status.
CPTPP membership also aligns with the UAE’s broader foreign policy of multilateral engagement, especially as it seeks free trade agreements beyond the Middle East and African regions.
Accession Process and Challenges Ahead
Despite the strategic rationale, the road to CPTPP membership is complex. The agreement requires unanimous consent from all existing members before accession talks begin. Each applicant must undergo a thorough review of its tariff regime, intellectual property protections, labor practices, and trade compliance history.
For both the Philippines and UAE, aligning with CPTPP standards may involve significant domestic reforms, particularly in sectors like agriculture, digital trade, and state-owned enterprises.
The next CPTPP ministerial meeting, scheduled in Australia before the end of 2025, could determine which of the current applications move forward. With eight nations now in the applicant queue, the bloc faces a delicate balance between expansion and preserving high standards.
What This Means for Global Trade
The resurgence of interest in CPTPP membership underscores a broader shift in global economic dynamics. As U.S.-China competition intensifies and traditional trade alliances fray, countries are seeking new frameworks to secure stable, long-term access to global markets.
For the Philippines and UAE, CPTPP membership offers more than just lower tariffs—it provides a platform for economic resilience, supply chain integration, and credibility in international commerce.
As the multilateral trading system is tested by rising protectionism, the CPTPP’s growing relevance may be one of the few signs of enduring economic cooperation.