1-Countries will now have to ratify the agreement, a process which involves amending their laws.
2. HOW WERE THE STICKING POINTS RESOLVED?
Canada, which has sought protection of its cultural industries, and Vietnam, which is worried about labour protection rules, will exchange separate side letters with other members on those respective topics at the time of the signing. The precise content of the letters will not be revealed until then.
3-HOW DOES THE CPTPP COMPARE WITH RCEP?
The 16-nation Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) covers nearly 3.5 billion people and account for a third of the world's gross domestic product. It is almost completed and could be signed this year.
It is an Asean-led initiative that seeks to bring into its fold China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
Seven of them are also CPTPP members, namely Australia, Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand and Vietnam.
The RCEP was conceived in 2012. If approved, the free trade agreement will be the largest trade bloc in terms of population. The RCEP countries make up 46 per cent of the global population and are worth 24 per cent of global GDP.
Like the CPTPP, the RCEP also does not include the US.
Unlike the CPTPP, the RCEP deal lacks protection for labour, human rights and the environment.
