China seeks to join TPP free trade pact to boost Asia cloutOfficials of the 11 member countries of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade accord make a toast after a meeting in Tokyo on Jan. 19, 2019. It remains uncertain, though, whether China will be allowed to join the pact. China's bid comes as the administration of US President Joe Biden remains cautious about returning to the treaty, from which the United States withdrew in January 2017. China's bid to join the free trade bloc follows Britain's application filed in February this year. Japan, a leading economy in the TPP, has said previously that complying with high-standard rules would be a prerequisite for China to enter negotiations toward participating in the free trade pact.

Source: Bangkok Post September 17, 2021 04:07 UTC