On 28 March 2018 the Senate referred the following to the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee for inquiry and report by 18 September 2018: The proposed Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, with particular reference to:

• a. Australia's economy and trade;
• b. Australia's domestic labour market testing obligations and laws regarding wages, conditions and entitlements of Australian workers and temporary work visa holders;
• c. Australian investment;
• d. the effect of Investor-State Dispute Settlement provisions;
• e. Australia's health, environmental, social and cultural policies, including regulation of essential services;
• f. rights for consumers; and
• g. any other related matters.

The committee held two public hearings, one in Melbourne on 30 July 2018 and one in Canberra on 20 August 2018. A list of the witnesses who gave evidence is available at Appendix 2.

This report is not an examination of all aspects of the Agreement but focusses instead on the issues of most interest to the participants in the inquiry. The report is structured as follows:

• Chapter 1 provides background information about the inquiry;
• Chapter 2 provides an overview of the TPP-11, including a summary of the anticipated benefits of the Agreement;
• Chapter 3 summarises the evidence received about the treaty making process and consultation undertaken during the development of the TPP-11, as well as economic modelling and broader assessment of trade agreements;
• Chapter 4 will summarise some of the key issues raised by submitters in relation to the terms of reference of the inquiry; and
• Chapter 5 presents the committee's conclusions and recommendations.