The UK has officially joined the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a free trade area covering the Indo-Pacific region. Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch signed the accession protocol in Auckland, New Zealand, marking the UK as the first new member and the first European nation to join the bloc since its formation in 2018. This trade agreement is significant for Britain, as it represents the largest trade deal since its exit from the EU. With the inclusion of the UK, the CPTPP will have a combined GDP of £12 trillion, accounting for 15 percent of global GDP. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak believes that this deal will unlock the benefits of Brexit and position Britain favorably in the global economy. However, critics argue that the benefits will be limited since the UK already has free trade agreements with most CPTPP members. The deal is expected to increase the UK’s GDP by just 0.08 percent in the long term, hardly compensating for the predicted 4 percent decrease caused by Brexit. Despite the modest economic impact, Badenoch views the deal as a Brexit success and anticipates it will deliver billions of pounds in additional trade and open up opportunities for British businesses. The formal confirmation of the agreement allows the UK and the other CPTPP members to begin the process of ratification, with the deal expected to come into force in the second half of 2024. It will deepen existing trade arrangements, providing zero tariffs for 99 percent of current UK goods exports to the bloc. Additionally, it will create export opportunities for British dairy, beef, pork, and poultry producers, while also making certain products from CPTPP nations cheaper for UK consumers.