The UK is to apply to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a trans-Pacific trading bloc of 11 countries, namely Australia, New Zealand, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

"New partnerships will bring enormous economic benefits for our people,” UK prime minister Boris Johnson said in a statement.

 

The government said joining CPTPP would remove tariffs on food, drink and motor vehicles and help boost the country's technology and services sectors.