Chile, New Zealand and Singapore announced their intention to initiate negotiations towards a trilateral closer economic partnership agreement, the Pacific Three (P3) at the APEC meeting in Los Cabos, Mexico in October 2002. On 3 June 2004, the P-3 accepted Brunei Darussalam as a founding member of the Agreement, thus becoming the P4.

Negotiations began in March 2003 and concluded with an agreement on 3 June 2005. At the same time, the Ministers announced the conclusion of parallel negotiations on an Environment Cooperation Agreement and a Labour Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding.

On 18 July 2005, the Agreement was signed by Chile, New Zealand and Singapore. A few weeks later, on 2 August 2005, Brunei signed the Agreement at the New Zealand Parliament, in Wellington.

Documents relating to the negotiations
02 August 2005	Brunei signs agreement
18 July 2005	Signing of the Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement -- Chile, New Zealand, Singapore and Brunei
01 June 2005	Joint Statement at conclusion of negotiations on a Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement
18-23 April 2005	Singapore. Fifth round of negotiations
07 - 11 March 2005	Queenstown, New Zealand. Fourth round of negotiations
13-16 December 2004	Santiago, Chile. Third round of negotiations
18-21 July 2004	Wellington, New Zealand. Second round of negotiations
24-26 September 2003	Singapore. First round of negotiations
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Government; Dirección General de Relaciones Económicas Internacionales, Chile (DIRECON); Ministry of Trade and Industry, Singapore; New Zealand government website; Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR)

• Dirección General de Relaciones Económicas Internacionales, Chile (DIRECON)
• Ministerio de Relaciones Internacionales, Chile
• Ministry of Trade and Industry, Singapore
• New Zealand Customs Service
• New Zealand Government Website
• ProChile