Is Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ opening the door to China to join the CPTPP?

Members of the trans-Pacific trade bloc may be more inclined to allow China to join as they look to counter US tariff threats, analysts say

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China has been trying to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a 12-member trading bloc, since 2021. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 12:10pm, 8 Apr 2025

During his first term in office, US President Donald Trump swiftly moved to pull the United States out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership – an ambitious free trade agreement aimed at cementing America’s position in the Asia-Pacific region.

Now, the reinstated US leader may be opening the door to China to join the successor to that agreement, as countries around the world seek to counter his sweeping reciprocal tariff regime, analysts said.

Trump shocked the world by placing steep new duties on imports from dozens of countries on Wednesday, which he styled as America’s “Liberation Day”. The tariff hikes – which will hit many of America’s closest allies – have sent markets tumbling and raised fears of a global recession.

Many expect the rest of the world to close ranks against the US as they seek to stand up to American threats, which could aid China in its long-standing application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

The CPTPP, which was born from the ashes of the TPP, is a 12-member trading bloc that includes Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Vietnam and several other major economies.

China applied to join the grouping in 2021, but its bid remains pending and the CPTPP’s members did not provide an update on the application during November’s joint ministerial meeting in Vancouver.