Canada Brings UK into CPTPP

Summary#

This order sets the date when An Act to implement the Protocol on the Accession of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership comes into force so Canada can give legal effect to the UK's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The order was approved by the federal government on June 22, 2026 and published in the Canada Gazette on July 1, 2026.

What it does#

• Fixes the day the Act comes into force so Canada can bring the UK Accession Protocol into force for Canada. Entry into force for Canada follows the usual international step of notifying the CPTPP depositary and waiting 60 days after that notification.
• Brings into force a package of legislative changes created by the Act, including:
  • amending the CPTPP Implementation Act to add a new Schedule that lists the UK Accession Protocol (and future accession protocols) and to expand the definition of “Agreement” so those protocols count as part of the CPTPP;
  • updating other federal laws so references to the CPTPP will include the UK accession (for example, changes to the Commercial Arbitration Act and the Customs Tariff);
  • creating a new tariff treatment in the Customs Tariff that reflects Canada’s tariff commitments to the United Kingdom and defining the staging categories for tariff elimination.
• Requires a parliamentary review of the UK’s accession every three years, starting three years after the Act comes into force. A committee must report to the House of Commons within six months after each review.

Who's affected#

• Canadian exporters and importers trading with the United Kingdom and other CPTPP members.
• Businesses in sectors covered by the CPTPP chapters (goods, services, investment, financial services, government procurement, digital trade, etc.), including small and medium-sized enterprises.
• Agricultural and agri-food producers — the source notes some beef and pork exporters previously voiced concerns about the terms of UK accession.
• Federal departments that handle trade implementation and customs, including Global Affairs Canada and Canada Border Services Agency.
• Provinces and territories: the source says no provincial-territorial legislative or policy changes are required for implementation.
• If anything about the exact entry date is unclear: the protocol’s entry into force for Canada depends on Canada completing its domestic steps and notifying the treaty depositary, then waiting 60 days.

Why it matters#

• The change lets Canada legally adopt the UK as a CPTPP partner. That creates a single, shared set of rules between Canada, the UK, and other CPTPP members.
• For businesses, that can mean clearer rules, more predictable market access, and new supply-chain options with the UK. The government says it will enhance the preferences already in the Canada–UK Trade Continuity Agreement.
• The Customs Tariff changes can affect duties on specific goods over time as tariff lines are phased out, which matters for importers and exporters.
• Some agricultural exporters worry that tariff gains may be limited by non-tariff barriers. The government notes it continues to raise those concerns with the UK.
• The required parliamentary review every three years gives lawmakers a recurring chance to assess how UK accession is working for Canada.