The UK and CPTPP negotiating teams have announced the conclusion of negotiations towards the UK’s eventual accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership. A formal Protocol of Accession is currently being prepared and it will not be published until it is signed.
Once signed, the protocol will be tabled before the UK’s Parliament, together with an explanatory memorandum and an independent impact assessment, where it will be subjected to further scrutiny before any implementing legislation is passed. For their part, the current CPTPP signatories will also have to complete their own domestic ratification procedures before the accession enters into force.
For the time being, however, the UK government has published a new policy paper outlining its case for accession.
While this paper will not restrict ongoing negotiations, nor will it create any treaty obligations, it is a good indication of what will likely be included in the final agreement.
What kind of ISDS provisions will apply?
