UK Secretary of State for International Trade Elizabeth Truss at an online meeting in London on June 09, 2020 (Photo: AFP/VNA)

She said that the UK wants to join the trade deal “as soon as possible” and welcomed Japan’s support for UK to participate in the deal.

The CPTPP membership is a strategic target for the UK when working with partners in the Pacific, the UK Secretary said.

CPTPP members account for 13% of the global economy and a large part of Asia-Pacific.

The UK also wants to become an ASEAN dialogue partner, she said, adding that the move will supplement the CPTPP membership.