The United Kingdom has warmly welcomed a significant milestone in international trade, following the agreement by parties to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to begin preparatory discussions on accession with the Philippines.
The announcement was made during the 10th CPTPP Commission Meeting, held virtually on 26 June 2026. Ministers at the meeting confirmed that preparatory discussions will concurrently begin with the Philippines, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The CPTPP is one of the world’s most significant and high-standard free trade agreements, covering roughly 15% of global GDP. The UK officially joined the bloc in 2024, expanding a membership that currently spans 12 economies across four continents, including Japan, Canada, and Australia.
The UK has been a consistent and vocal champion of the Philippines’ application to join the agreement. This breakthrough builds directly on the CPTPP Joint Ministerial Statement from November 2025, which first outlined the bloc’s strategic interest in the Philippines, Indonesia, and the UAE.
UK Deputy Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific (Southeast Asia), Rhiannon Harries, said: “We have strongly supported the Philippines’ application from the start. If the Philippines completes the process and joins the agreement, businesses in both our countries would benefit from lower tariffs, simpler trading rules, and stronger, more resilient supply chains.
“These preparatory discussions will lay the crucial groundwork for a potential future accession process, opening up fresh opportunities for cross-border business, investment, and long-term economic growth.”
For the Philippines, joining the CPTPP offers a gateway to one of the world’s most comprehensive trade networks, streamlining regulations and lowering trade barriers across diverse, high-growth markets. From the British perspective, the CPTPP serves as a vital strategic forum to expand the global reach of modern, rules-based trade.
While preparatory discussions do not guarantee final accession or the immediate launch of formal negotiations, they represent a critical step forward. The talks are designed to deepen engagement and ensure a clear understanding between the Philippines and current CPTPP Parties regarding the agreement’s rigorous standards.
British Ambassador to the Philippines, Sarah Hulton OBE, noted: “We warmly welcome this important milestone. The UK looks forward to working closely alongside our fellow CPTPP parties and the Philippines as we navigate this process together.”
The UK’s enthusiasm for this milestone reflects the flourishing bilateral partnership between the two nations, which carries special significance as the UK and the Philippines celebrate 80 years of diplomatic relations this year.
Economic ties between the two countries have accelerated rapidly, anchored by the inaugural Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) established in 2025 to boost cooperation in infrastructure, renewable energy, agriculture, and technology. Furthermore, Philippine exporters already benefit substantially from the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), which offers tariff-free access on 92% of products exported to the UK.
This announcement also marks one year since the publication of the UK’s comprehensive Trade Strategy, which explicitly prioritized the deepening and widening of the CPTPP network. The UK looks forward to continuing its close collaboration with the Philippines to build an even stronger, mutually beneficial trading relationship.
