Boris Johnson’s ambitious post-Brexit bid to join £9trillion Pacific trade club

Boris Johnson has launched an ambitious bid for Britain to join one of the world’s biggest trading clubs.

In a move which marks the first anniversary of the UK’s formal exit from the EU, moves to sign up to the £9 trillion Pacific free trading area will begin Monday.

The aim is to give post-Brexit British companies access to rapidly growing markets throughout Asia.

Formal talks on the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership will start later this year.

Johnson said: “One year after our departure from the EU we are forging new partnerships that will bring enormous economic benefits for the people of Britain.”

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A deal would make digital commerce easier and more secure, eliminate tariffs on 95 per cent of exports such as whisky, cars, food and drink and reduce red tape on business travel.

The club includes Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Vietnam, Canada, Malaysia and Peru and was worth £111 billion in U.K. trade last year.

No 10 says the move is a key part of the Government’s plan to build new international trade deals outside the EU.

International Trade Secretary Liz Truss said: “This will create enormous opportunities for UK businesses that simply weren’t there before.”