After months of speculation, reports are emerging that the UK is in talks to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership to stimulate exports after leaving the European Union.
Such a move would be extremely unusual. Indeed, it would prove one of the few instances outside of Latin America where a country left one bloc while preparing (or hoping) to offset trade via trade with another. Moreover, the TPP has not been negotiated with the UK in mind, and it is hard to imagine the accord reflects its trading priorities. And even if it did, Britain’s membership would almost certainly require other similarly situated countries (Canada immediately comes to mind) to review their commitments.