London plays down joining N. American trade partnership

The British government has played down the possibility of any immediate moves to join a North American free trade area with the US, Mexico and Canada.
10 Downing Street has insisted that Boris Johnson’s priority is still a stand-alone deal with Washington.
The idea of a British bid to join the USMCA partnership has been a significant news headline since Boris Johnson’s trip to America, as it became clear that the prime minister’s dream of a post-Brexit free trade agreement would not receive immediate attention and action on the part of the White House.
The UK was exploring other options and the ball is still in Washington’s court over expanding the partnership beyond the North American continent for the first time.