The UK will be the first European member to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
In a ground-breaking move, agreement was reached in March for the UK to join the CPTPP. Membership of the Asia-Pacific trade bloc will help to lower trade barriers to this important region, which is expected to play an increasingly significant role in the global economy.
Businesses across the UK will benefit from free trade, with 11 dynamic countries expected to make up the majority of global growth in the coming years. The agreement ensures British businesses can enjoy unparalleled access to markets from Europe to the South Pacific.
What is the CPTPP?
The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is an Asia-Pacific trade bloc currently made up of 11 countries:
Australia
Brunei Darussalam
Canada
Chile
Japan
Malaysia
Mexico
New Zealand
Peru
Singapore
Vietnam
Other countries, including China, have applied to join or have expressed an interest in doing so. The UK will be the first new member since it was established in 2018 and is the first European member to join.
Why is the UK joining?
With 500 million people in this dynamic region, tariff-free trade with CPTPP countries will boost our economy, support new British jobs and drive economic growth over the coming years.
While the UK already has bilateral trade agreements with nine of the CPTPP members, those with Australia and New Zealand are not yet in force. We don’t yet have agreements with Brunei Darussalam or Malaysia. Our trade with this region is already significant; in 2022, the UK exported £60.6 billion of goods and services to the CPTPP countries (7.8% of the UK total) and imported £50.2 billion (5.9%).
Our membership in the CPTPP is expected to bring a wide range of benefits, including:
cutting tariffs on goods exports
new opportunities from diversifying supply chains
opening new markets for UK service providers
improved data flows
a trade deal with Malaysia for the first time
more access to high-quality consumer goods
strengthening economic security
encouraging investment
What is the reaction from UK businesses?
“At first glance, this looks to be good news for UK businesses”
British Chambers of Commerce
“A win for the UK”
Institute of Directors (IoD)
“Benefits will be more strategic than material”
TechUK
“It could provide some good opportunities to get more fantastic British food on plates overseas”
NFU
Are there any concerns?
The IoD cautioned that the economic gains were likely to be limited and that trade agreements “generally do not shift the dial”. Various organisations have expressed concerns about the resulting implications for environmental standards, farming and food safety. However, the government has confirmed that food imports will continue to comply with UK import standards.