(VOVWORLD) - Britain will apply to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a massive 11-nation free-trade bloc of Asia-Pacific countries, it announced Saturday.
 UK International Trade Secretary Liz Truss (Photo: AFP/VNA) |
International Trade Secretary Liz Truss will speak to officials in Japan and New Zealand on Monday to formally make the request.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said after leaving the EU, London is seeking to construct new partnerships. He said the application to join CPTPP shows the UK’s determination to cooperate with international friends and contribute to the global free trade network.
CPTPP is an agreement that removes most tariffs among its 11 members: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam. The UK International Trade Department said negotiations on joining CPTPP will be held this year.