Malaysia has officially ratified the United Kingdom’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a significant milestone as it is effectively Malaysia’s first bilateral free trade agreement with the UK.

In a statement today, the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry said Malaysia joins Japan, Singapore, Chile, New Zealand, Vietnam, and Peru in the ratification process.

The UK’s entry into the CPTPP will swell the combined gross domestic product (GDP) value...