Boris 'pride' over Pacific trade deal

SUCCESSFUL membership of the transPacific trade bloc is "global Britain in action", Boris Johnson said last night.

- Marco Giannangeli

Experts say membership of the £9trillion bloc will not only boost the UK's economy but also allow it to influence the global trading system.

This could include giving the UK a say in whether China is allowed to join the bloc a move Beijing has requested but which senior Government figures have opposed.

UK membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for TransPacific Partnership (CPTPP) was welcomed yesterday, with Mr Johnson saying: "I'm proud that the UK will be the first European country to join. This is free trading global Britain in action."

In the short term, joining the bloc is expected to provide an 0.08 percent boost to GDP - £2billion by today's calculations.