Brexit timeline (Image: Express)
This month, the UK applied to join the CPTPP on the first anniversary of Britain's official departure from the EU.
This agreement would not require the UK to give up control over its own laws, borders or money — unlike the EU.
But former Washington aide and commentator Peter Rough said it would be beneficial for the UK and US to be accepted into the agreement but speculated that the US is unlikely to join.
Washington aide and commentator Peter Rough told Express.co.uk: “I think it’s a great idea for Britain to join, and there’s a lot of momentum and talk in Washington that this would be a great way to counter the Chinese trade bloc, the RCEP [Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership], in South East Asia.