Britain's International Trade Secretary Liz Truss arrives at number 10 Downing Street in central London on March 17, 2020. (PHOTO /AFP)

LONDON — The United Kingdom announced on Wednesday it would pursue accession to a revamped version of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

“Today we’re announcing our intent to pursue accession to CPTPP, one of the world’s largest free trading areas,” Trade Secretary Liz Truss said.

The British government said joining CPTPP would help the UK overcome the challenge posed by the coronavirus and would help diversify its trade links..

Today we’re announcing our intent to pursue accession to CPTPP, one of the world’s largest free trading areas

Liz Truss, Secretary of State for International Trade, UK

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The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is a free trade agreement that links Canada and 10 other countries: Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

Once fully implemented, the 11 countries will form a trading bloc representing 495 million consumers and 13.5 percent of global GDP, according to the Canadian government. If the United Kingdom were to join, that share of global GDP would rise to about 16 percent.

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The United Kingdom left the European Union on Jan 31 but the main terms of its membership remain in place during a transition period until the end of this year. Both the UK and EU hope to negotiate a new free trade deal between them by the end of the year.