China’s application to join the pact is now next in line if they are dealt with in the order they were received, but the country faces a number of hurdles to be included.
The CPTPP requires countries to eliminate or significantly reduce tariffs, make strong commitments to opening services and investment markets and has rules around competition, intellectual property rights and protections for foreign companies.
Damien O'Connor, New Zealand's trade minister who chaired this CPTPP meeting, said at a press conference there was no time frame for when any decisions on future membership would be made.
https://www.reuters.com/world/britain-signs-treaty-join-trans-pacific-trade-pact-2023-07-16/
