- China has applied to join the Asia-Pacific Free Trade grouping of 11-nation in a bid to increase its influence over international policies.
- Application was submitted by the Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, to the Trade Minister of New Zealand as a representative of Comprehensive & Progress Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) or the Asia-Pacific free Trade grouping.
- CPTPP was originally the Trans-Pacific Partnership. It was a group promoted by former President Barack Obama as part of USA’s increasing emphasis on its relations with Asia.
- China was not included in the initial group.
- Donald Trump had pulled out the group in 2017 and the current President of US Joe Biden has not yet re-joined the group.
Tags:
Economics
