Following its rejection earlier this week by United States President Donald Trump, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) could potentially see the United Kingdom join its ranks post-Brexit.
According to Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, the UK has shown "real interest" in joining the free trade deal, and is partaking in preliminary discussions on doing so.
"You can see the attraction of it to the UK, because if they were to join the TPP they would be entering into a high-quality trade agreement with 11 other countries in one hit," Turnbull told media in London.
"Of course, it would have to be negotiated with all those 11 other countries, including Australia. But nonetheless, it is impressive I think to see the strong interest shown by the UK."
While Trump had told media earlier this week following meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Florida on the TPP that "if they offered us a deal I can't refuse on behalf of the US I would do it", he then used Twitter to reject the trade deal[1] on Tuesday night.
"While Japan and South Korea would like us to go back into TPP, I don't like the deal for the United States," Trump tweeted[2].
"Too many contingencies and no way to get out if it doesn't work. Bilateral deals are far more efficient, profitable and better for OUR workers. Look how bad WTO is to U.S."
The tweet followed Trump last week telling a group of lawmakers during a business and trade White House meeting concerning rising tariffs with China that he was reconsidering joining the TPP[3].
Trump had asked US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and new chief economic adviser Larry Kudlow to examine re-entering the