UK-Singapore Joint Statement on CPTPP and WTO

Joint Statement from Singapore Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong and United Kingdom Secretary of State for International Trade Anne-Marie Trevelyan on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the World Trade Organisation.

1. Singapore and the UK warmly welcome the 18 February decision of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Accession Working Group to progress to the market access stage of the UK’s accession. This is a key milestone achieved through the substantial efforts and constructive cooperation between the CPTPP Members and the UK. Singapore and the UK affirm the shared commitment to maintain the momentum of the UK’s accession process under Singapore’s Commission Chairmanship year.

2. Singapore and the UK have a shared interest in a vital and relevant multilateral trading system as embodied by the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Singapore and the UK reaffirm our shared commitment to intensify efforts and work closely with other WTO Members to ensure that the WTO achieves meaningful outcomes at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference.

3. Singapore and the UK have cooperated constructively during the UK’s COP26 Presidency ensuring ambitious outcomes in particular under Article 6 negotiations on carbon markets. We share interest in decarbonising our economies by developing standards, expertise and technologies to progress the energy transition and achieve net zero emissions.

Ministry of Trade and Industry, Singapore

Department of International Trade, UK

25 February 2022