British International Trade Secretary Liz Truss.

Joining the CPTPP will strengthen Britain’s relationship with Vietnam and other dynamic economies in the Indo-Pacific region, creating opportunities for the UK economy, International Trade Secretary Liz Truss said at a signing ceremony for the Vietnam-UK Free Trade Agreement last December. Truss said she appreciates Vietnam’s support for Britain’s joining the CPTPP.

"The CPTPP is important for the UK because it would give us deep access to a 9 trillion pound market but also it helps the UK diversify its supply chain more broadly and makes us more resilient," she said.

"In this era where some countries are advocating protectionism, it’s very important that we support free trade and it’s good to work with like-minded countries like Vietnam. We’re making the case for free trade and economic growth which I think we all need as we seek to recover from coronavirus."

The trade agreement covering 13% of global GDP includes Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.