U.K. joins the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership

After close to two years of negotiations, the U.K. joined the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) on March 31, 2023. Britain becomes the 12th country in the trading bloc, and the only one outside the Pacific Rim. 

British and Canadian officials said the move should accelerate negotiations for a bilateral deal between the two countries with negotiations expected to conclude in mid-2024. Market-access issues still need to be addressed in the bilateral talks as the U.K. wants to be able to sell more cheese in Canada’s supply-managed dairy sector.