Timeline of the CPTPP

January 2019

On January 1, Australia, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and Singapore implement a second round of tariff cuts. (Japan’s second tariff cut will take place on April 1.)

On January 14, the CPTPP enters into force between Canada and Vietnam. Canadian exporters immediately benefit from Vietnam’s first and second tariff cuts.

December 2018

On December 30, the CPTPP enters into force between Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and Singapore. These initial six countries implement their first round of tariff cuts.

October 2018

On October 25, Canada’s implementing legislation for the CPTPP (Bill C-79) receives royal assent.

On October 29, Minister of International Trade Diversification Jim Carr announces Canada’s ratification of the CPTPP, making Canada the fifth country to ratify the agreement, joining Mexico (June 28), Japan (July 6), Singapore (July 19) and New Zealand (October 25).

On October 31, Australia ratifies the CPTPP. Australia ratifies the CPTPP, triggering entry into force of the CPTPP for the first six ratifying countries 60 days later (on December 30).

September 2018

On September 17, International Trade Diversification Minister Jim Carr delivers a speech to introduce Bill C-79 for second reading in the House of Commons.

June 2018

On June 14, International Trade Minister François-Philippe Champagne introduces Bill C-79 in the House of Commons for debate, consideration and passage through Parliament.

May 2018

Under the Policy on Tabling of Treaties in Parliament, on May 22 International Trade Minister François-Philippe Champagne tables the CPTPP treaty, with all binding side instruments, in the House of Commons for 21 consecutive sitting days ending on June 20.

March 2018

On March 8, representatives of all 11 CPTPP countries meet in Santiago, Chile, to sign the historic trade agreement. Once it enters into force, the CPTPP will reduce or eliminate almost all tariffs between CPTPP member countries and remove non-tariff barriers to trade.

January 2018

CPTPP senior officials meet in Tokyo, Japan, from January 22 to 23 to consider remaining issues not resolved in the APEC Leaders’ Meeting in Da Nang the previous November.

On January 23, the 11 CPTPP countries conclude discussions and finalize the text of the agreement.

November 2017

Senior officials from the remaining Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) countries meet for the fifth time, on the margins of the APEC Leaders’ Meeting in Da Nang, Vietnam, to discuss the potential new agreement.

Ministers from the TPP countries also hold productive discussions in Da Nang, eventually agreeing on the core elements of the new CPTPP.

October 2017

Senior officials meet for the fourth time, in Maihama, Japan, from October 30 to November 1, to discuss the potential new agreement.

Public consultations seeking the views of Canadians on a renewed agreement conclude on October 30.

September 2017

Senior officials meet for the third time, in Tokyo from September 19 to 22, to discuss the potential new agreement.

On September 30, the Government of Canada launches 30 days of public consultations seeking the views of Canadians on opportunities to pursue free, fair and progressive trade in Asia Pacific. The consultations build on the previous, extensive public consultations on the original TPP, which were launched in November 2015.

August 2017

Senior officials meet for the second time, in Sydney, Australia, from August 28 to 30, to continue discussions on a potential new agreement.

July 2017

Senior officials from the remaining TPP countries launch a process to assess options for delivering a shared commitment to pursue free, fair, and progressive trade and to report back later this year. The officials meet first in Hakone, Japan, from July 12 to 14 and subsequently in Sydney and Tokyo.

On July 19, the government presents to the House of Commons its response to the Standing Committee on International Trade’s (CIIT’s) report on TPP consultations.

May 2017

Ministers from the remaining members of the TPP meet first in Toronto, Ontario, on May 2 and 3 and then on the margins of the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam, on May 21 to discuss possible next steps toward an agreement.

April 2017

The Standing Committee on International Trade tables its TPP consultations report in Parliament on April 10.

January 2017

The CIIT concludes its TPP consultations on January 27, after hearing from over 400 witnesses and receiving over 190 written submissions from a broad range of stakeholders and members of the public from across the country.

The United States notifies the other TPP members of its intent to not ratify the TPP on January 30.

February 2016

The 12 TPP members, including Canada, sign the agreement on February 4 in Auckland, New Zealand.

November 2015

The text of the TPP Agreement is made public on November 5.

The Government of Canada launches public consultations on Canada’s participation in the Agreement, holding over 265 interactions with over 530 stakeholders across a range of sectors, interests and regions to discuss the TPP. Those consulted include representatives of all provinces and territories, industry, civil society, think tanks, academics, Indigenous groups, students, and members of the general public. The government also receives over 41,000 letters and emails from interested Canadians.

October 2015

The TPP negotiations conclude in Atlanta, Georgia, on October 5.

October 2012

Canada, along with Mexico, joins the group of countries negotiating the TPP in time to participate in the 15th round of negotiations on October 8. Japan had joined in July 2013.

2006 to 2010

The TPP was built on the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement, also known as the P4, between Brunei, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore. The P4 entered into force in 2006.

In 2010, Australia, Peru, the United States, and Vietnam joined the P4 countries to launch a new round of negotiations toward the TPP. Later that year, the TPP negotiating group grew to nine countries when Malaysia joined.