Editorial

14:56 JST, December 1, 2025

The presence of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which is led by Japan, is growing. As the free trade system is on the brink of crisis due to tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, the importance of this framework appears to have been confirmed once again.

It is hoped that the CPTPP will expand its membership and serve as a bulwark to protect free trade.

A ministerial-level meeting of the CPTPP, which has 12 member states including Japan, Australia, Britain, Vietnam and Mexico, was held in Australia. Membership negotiations are currently underway with Costa Rica of Central America, and it has been decided to launch negotiations with Uruguay in South America as well.

The CPTPP, which came into effect in 2018, is an........

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