1 April 2023: Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)

Context:

The United Kingdom recently decided to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

About

  • 11 nations make up the Indo-Pacific Free Trade Area under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
  • Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam are among its partners.
    Since the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) was made in 2018, Britain will be the first new partner and the first European country to join.
  • Once the UK enters, the 500 million-person bloc will account for 15% of the world’s GDP.

Relevance to the UK

  • The UK views this as a boost to its geopolitical relations and commercial growth.
  • The UK anticipates an annual increase of £1.8 billion ($2.23 billion) in the long run.
  • The UK also thinks that joining will give it a say in establishing regional trade laws in the ensuing decades. It might imply that the UK and other members are obstructing China’s potential membership in the club.
  • With better access to Mexico, Canada, and Japan for dairy exports and a boost to Britain’s automotive and alcohol industries, especially through the export of spirits to Malaysia, membership will eventually guarantee zero-tariff trade in a number of import and export sectors.