Amid Brexit turmoil, a significant announcement

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The UK says it is considering accession to the CPTPP - but will Brexit prove too much of an obstacle? Photo: Lynn Grieveson

Amidst the flurry of ministerial resignations and appointments, the UK’s announcement that it is formally considering joining the CPTPP trade deal was easy to miss. Sam Sachdeva reports for Newsroom on the significance of the announcement, and the obstacles in the way.

As England prepare to take on Croatia in the World Cup semi-final, it’s hard to tell who will end up with more own goals - the 2018 Russia tournament or the British Government.

British Prime Minister Theresa May’s announcement that her Cabinet had approved a negotiating plan at the Prime Minister’s Chequers country house has led to a number of resignations from hard Brexiteers who believe the proposal is too soft, including Brexit Secretary David Davis and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.

Given the turmoil, it was easy to miss a trade announcement that could have ramifications for New Zealand.

Speaking in the House of Commons about the Chequers meeting, May said Cabinet had agreed to “consider seeking accession” to the 11-nation CPTPP trade deal.