Hanoi, June 26 -- Member countries of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) have agreed to launch preliminary discussions with Indonesia, the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), paving the way for formal accession negotiations by the three economies. According to a joint statement issued following a ministerial virtual meeting on June 26, the 12 CPTPP members have for the first time established a preliminary consultation mechanism before opening formal accession negotiations. Under the process, member states will assess the candidates' domestic legal frameworks and trade regulations against the agreement's standards. To join the CPTPP, applicant economies must meet a range of stringent...