Foreign media: Vietnam, Japan call on US to rejoin CPTPP
Vietnam and Japan on September 13 urged the US to rejoin the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal, now renamed Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), almost two years after US President Donald Trump withdrew from the deal, according to the AFP news agency.
Officials of the CPTPP member nations at the deal signing ceremony in Chile last March (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam andJapan on September 13 urged the US to rejoin the Trans-Pacific Partnership(TPP) deal, now renamed Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement forTrans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), almost two years after US PresidentDonald Trump withdrew from the deal, according to the AFP news agency.
The AFP report quoted Japanese Foreign MinisterTaro Kono, speaking at the World Economic Forum on ASEAN in Hanoi, as sayingthat CPTPP members believe that the agreement is still the best option for theUS, and that it will be very attractive for US industries and farmersto join it. He added that the pactcould be going into effect by the end of the year.
Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister and ForeignMinister Pham Binh Minh echoed Kono's appeal, calling the deal "avery high-standard agreement".
The TPP used to be negotiated by 12 countries,namely Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand,Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, and the US.
After the US withdrew from the TPP, theremaining 11 members still strived to continue the deal and renamed it CPTPP,which was officially signed in Chile on March 8.
They said they would leave a door open for theUS’s re-participation and new members.
Last April, President Trump said the US wouldonly join the CPTPP if the deal was improved.
The CPTPP is expected to promote economicgrowth, create more jobs, reduce poverty, and improve the living standards ofpeople in member countries. It will create one of the biggest free trade blocsin the world, with a combined market of some 499 million people and total GDPof 10.1 trillion USD, accounting for 13.5 percent of the global GDP. –VNA
Singapore has become the third country to ratify the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), according to a statement by its Ministry of Industry and Trade on July 19.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade is making every endeavour to complete all required papers and to submit the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to the National Assembly for ratification in the legislature’s session later this year.
Chief negotiators from the 11 signatories of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) agreed on July 19 to start accession talks with potential newcomers in 2019, after the trade pact takes effect.
Japan’s economy revitalization minister Toshimitsu Motegi has welcomed the UK’s expression of interest in joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), according to Kyodo News.
The Malaysian government will continue to negotiate the terms of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) until it is satisfied that they will not be detrimental to the country, said Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
Total trade between Indonesia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 reached 963.23 million USD, an increase of 21.56% compared to 792.39 million USD in the same period last year. Of this amount, Indonesia's exports to New Zealand totaled 374.89 million USD, while imports 588.35 million USD
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.