U.K. to join Pacific trade bloc after Canadian help, clearing path for bilateral deal

Britain is set to join a massive trade bloc that will likely speed up negotiations on a bilateral deal between Ottawa and London. The countries of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership are expected to give the U.K. a green light to become the 12th country in the trading bloc, and the only one outside the Pacific Rim. International Trade Minister Mary Ng says the move will help Canada partner with Britain on clean-energy projects. Ng says Canada was the first member of the bloc to push for Britain to be included, though Japan has been facilitating the…