Pacific trade deal ‘will make mockery of UK’s climate ambitions’

CPTPP membership will result in more deforestation and endanger animal welfare, say campaigners

The UK's membership of a Pacific trade agreement will result in more deforestation overseas, endanger animal welfare and make a mockery" of the government's environmental commitments, campaigners have said.

Ministers signed an agreement late last week for the UK to become a member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a trading bloc of 11 nations including Japan, Canada, Australia and Mexico.