President Joe Biden launched the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework on a visit to Tokyo in May. (file)
Washington:
The United States on Tuesday will host a virtual meeting of officials representing the 14 countries that have joined the Indo-Pacific economic framework, as Washington seeks to expand its engagement with Asia.
The ministerial meeting will be hosted by US Trade Representative Catherine Tai and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, their offices announced in a statement on Sunday.
President Joe Biden, who introduced IPEF when he visited Tokyo in May, wants to use it as a way to raise environmental, labor and other standards across Asia.
Washington has lacked an economic pillar to its Indo-Pacific engagement since former President Donald Trump abandoned the multinational Trans-Pacific trade deal, leaving the region open to China expanding its influence.
In addition to the United States, IPEF members include Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Topics discussed at Tuesday’s meeting included trade, supply chain, clean energy, infrastructure, taxes and combating corruption, the statement said.
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