Recommendation 14

We acknowledge the potential advantages of the UK’s new role in CPTPP. However, the Integrated Review and Integrated Review Refresh lack detail as to how the Government intends to utilise CPTPP as an important economic and trade strand of its strategy. We have seen that there is potential for CPTPP to be a forum for engagement with partners in the Indo-Pacific, but note that its primary function is as a free trade agreement. We would welcome further detail on how the Government expects membership of CPTPP to contribute to delivery of its strategic aims in the region as the agreement is implemented over the coming years.