Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Minister for Trade and Competitiveness Craig Emerson today warmly welcomed Mexico as a new member of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
The country's inclusion in the negotiations, announced during the G20 Leaders' Summit in Los Cabos, brings the number of parties seeking to conclude a wide-ranging accord on trade and economic integration across the Asia-Pacific region to 10.
Speaking from Los Cabos, the Prime Minister said Mexico was an important partner to have at the table in the development of a modern, comprehensive trade agreement across Asia and the Pacific.
The TPP parties now around the table account for 27 per cent of global GDP.
Mexico's addition to the talks today is another step towards APEC's vision of a free trade area of Asia-Pacific.
Minister Emerson said Australia looked forward to working with Mexico on this ambitious project.
The expansion of the TPP group translates into greater opportunities for Australian businesses and farmers to engage with the fastest-growing region on earth.
Mexico's inclusion was agreed by consensus among TPP members and reflects the country's commitment to trade liberalisation.