At their meeting in Japan on Wednesday, they discussed the expansion of members to the agreement. Director of the Multilateral Trade Policy Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade Luong Hoang Thai led the Vietnamese delegation in the meeting. In his opening remark Head of the Japanese delegation Kazuyoshi Umetomo expressed his hope that the trade pact will come into effect early next year. Mexico, Singapore, and New Zealand believe that all necessary procedures will be finalized by the end of this year.

The delegates discussed procedures for membership expansion and the establishment of a Secretariat after the agreement takes effect. Thailand and Colombia have showed interest in joining the agreement.