UK gains full access to CPTPP: What does it mean for exporters?

1 September 2026

The UK's trading relationship with the CPTPP is now fully operational across all 11 partner countries, opening up greater opportunities for British businesses across markets in the Asia-Pacific region and the Americas.

With Canada becoming the final CPTPP country to bring the UK's accession into force on 1 September 2026, UK businesses can now benefit from the agreement across the entire bloc, including preferential tariffs and provisions supporting services, public procurement, business mobility and digital trade. The economies of CPTPP members, including the UK, were worth almost £13 trillion in combined GDP in 2025.

Which countries are covered?

UK businesses can now trade under CPTPP with:

Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

The UK officially joined CPTPP in December 2024, when the agreement initially came into force with eight members. Mexico followed in June 2026, and Canada's entry into force completes the UK's access to all 11 other member countries.

The Government estimates that CPTPP membership could add around £2 billion a year to the UK economy in the long term.

What are the opportunities for UK exporters?

One of the most significant benefits is improved tariff access.

The Government says more than 99% of current UK goods exports to CPTPP countries will be eligible for zero tariffs.

For exporters, lower tariffs can help reduce the landed cost of goods for overseas customers and potentially make UK products more competitive in CPTPP markets.

But CPTPP extends beyond tariffs. Depending on the market and sector, businesses may also benefit from:

✔ Improved access for UK services providers.

✔ Greater opportunities to compete for public procurement contracts.

✔ Provisions supporting digital trade and e-commerce.

✔ Improved arrangements for business travel and mobility.

✔ Opportunities to participate in regional supply chains.

✔ Reduced barriers to doing business across member markets.

For businesses considering international expansion, CPTPP therefore provides an opportunity to look beyond individual markets and consider how the agreement could support a wider export strategy across the Asia-Pacific region and the Americas.

Canada opens up further opportunities

Canada joining the UK's CPTPP arrangements is particularly significant because UK businesses can now consider the benefits available under CPTPP alongside the existing UK–Canada Trade Continuity Agreement.

Under CPTPP, eligible UK business visitors can stay in Canada for up to six months, compared with the previous limit of 90 days in any six-month period for business visitors for investment purposes under the existing bilateral agreement.

The agreement also provides enhanced access to public procurement opportunities not previously covered, including opportunities in sectors such as air transport, accounting and financial services.

For businesses already trading with Canada, this makes it worth reviewing whether CPTPP provides additional advantages for their particular activities.

Could CPTPP support your export strategy?

CPTPP brings together developed and fast-growing economies across several regions, giving UK businesses access to a broad range of potential customers, suppliers and commercial opportunities.

For businesses already exporting to one or more CPTPP countries, now is a good time to review whether they are making full use of the agreement. For those considering new markets, it could also provide a useful starting point for identifying where tariff advantages or other provisions could strengthen their proposition.

Where preferential tariffs are available, exporters should check the product-specific Rules of Origin and ensure their goods meet the relevant origin criteria before claiming preference. This can be particularly important for manufactured products incorporating materials or components sourced from different countries.

Businesses should consider not only where demand exists, but whether CPTPP can help make a particular market commercially more attractive through lower tariffs, easier market access or other trade benefits.

With the UK's CPTPP accession now in force across all 11 partner countries, understanding where the agreement provides an advantage – and how to use it effectively – could help UK businesses turn greater market access into real export opportunities.

By Carla Assunção, Chamber International

Looking to make the most of CPTPP opportunities? We can help you understand how the agreement could benefit your business, with specialist consultancy support on Rules of Origin, commodity codes and preferential tariffs. Speak to our team.

Want to build your knowledge? Join our online Rules of Origin, Trade Agreements and Commodity Codes course on 15 October.

Follow Chamber International on LinkedIn for the latest in international trade.