Mexico has become the first country to notify it has ratified the 11 member CPTPP trade deal.
A Bill bringing New Zealand's ratification of the CPTPP also got a step closer today after it had its first reading in Parliament.
Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker congratulated Mexico on becoming the first signatory to ratify at a formal hand-over of the notice by Mexico's Ambassador Traslosheros.
"Plurilateral trade agreements such as the CPTPP are increasingly important for export-driven economies," David Parker said.
"Mexico's speedy ratification, less than four months after the agreement was signed in Santiago, is a welcome indication of support for open markets and global trade rules.
"Significantly, Mexico would be one of New Zealand's new FTA relationships within the CPTPP grouping."
A release from the Government today states that Mexico is New Zealand's largest goods trading partner in Latin America and this country's 21st-largest export market overall.
Goods and services trade with Mexico was worth $742 million in 2017.
The CPTPP comes into force 60 days after at least six of the 11 signatories have ratified. The other signatories are: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Singapore and Viet Nam.
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