Britain is interested in joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade bloc after it leaves the EU. Britain has started informal talks about joining the bloc to enhance post-Brexit exports. Although the United States pulled out of the talks, other TPP countries have pledged to move forward with plans for a trade group. The TPP has so far involved only countries such as Japan, Canada and Mexico.
Junior Trade Minister Greg Hands averred that there was no geographical restriction that would prevent Britain’s participation. “Nothing is excluded in all of this. With these kind of plurilateral relationships, there doesn’t have to be any geographical restriction.”
EU rules state Britain cannot agree new trade deals before it leaves the bloc in March 2019. An official from a TPP country was reported to have said it was too soon to discuss UK accession before a Brexit agreement.
