bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

Asia

South Korea’s incoming government considers joining US economic pact
10-May-2022 Reuters
South Korea is "positively considering" joining an Indo-Pacific economic pact planned by the United States, a government official said.
Biden’s Indo-Pacific Framework: ‘Cloud cuckoo land’
3-May-2022 Inside Sources
Asian and American trade experts characterize the framework as “weak tea,” consisting of “all of the things the US considers important” but little for Indo-Pacific nations in return for their membership obligations.
Ardern confirms interest in US economic framework
2-May-2022 Newsroom
Speaking to a US business summit, Jacinda Ardern has confirmed NZ interest in a major economic initiative out of Washington while calling on the US to be more engaged in the region on trade
What is IPEF, and will it help the US counter China’s influence in the Asia-Pacific?
14-Apr-2022 South China Morning Post
The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework seeks to establish trade rules and is widely seen as an effort by the US to counter China’s influence in the Asia-Pacific region.
Biden’s Indo-Pacific Economic Framework is at a crossroads
12-Apr-2022 The Hill
Unless the Biden administration chooses the right path, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework will be more or less forgotten by the end of the year.
S. Korea, Australia discuss US-proposed economic framework, supply chains
6-Apr-2022 Yonhap
Top trade officials of South Korea and Australia vowed to boost cooperation on the US-led economic initiative in the Indo-Pacific region and other trade issue.
Negotiations to begin on US Indo-Pacific trade pact, but more details needed
1-Apr-2022 AFTINET
It remains unclear as to whether the agreement will be legally binding, whether it will contain dispute resolution mechanisms, and whether it will be an ‘all in’ agreement or allow parties to choose what they sign up to.
Lawmakers press for ag focus in Indo-Pacific Economic Framework
31-Mar-2022 Agri-Pulse
Eighty-seven US Congress members have signed a letter urging the Biden administration to focus on improving agriculture trade as it builds foreign relationships under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework.
Indo-Pacific trade talks to launch soon, Australia’s Tehan says
30-Mar-2022 Bloomberg
Digital trade rules to be prominent part of talks, Tehan says. Ministers looking to meet in April or May to work on details.
Indo-Pacific Economic Framework: Business recommendations
24-Mar-2022 US Chamber of Commerce
The American business community’s suggested points for inclusion in the US administration’s proposed alternative to the CPTPP, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework.
RCEP: A geopolitical gain for China
3-Feb-2022 Modern Diplomacy
China has won a big geopolitical win with the RCEP as the deal improves Asia’s economic connectivity closing to China’s economic orbit as a result of tighter integration.
The US doesn’t need CPTPP to assert itself in the Asia-Pacific
3-Feb-2022 Newsnero
Trade deals are important, but they are neither necessary nor sufficient for American foreign policy to prevail in the Asia-Pacific region.
US will not join regional trade pact CPTPP, but pursue specific tie-ups with allies: Gina Raimondo
17-Nov-2021 The Straits Times
The United States will not join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership now for various reasons, but it is pursuing other partnerships with its allies in specific areas.
China’s interest in DEPA digital trade pact raises questions about ‘domestic reforms’ and what could be the next big multilateral deal
5-Nov-2021 South China Morning Post
Analysts and trade experts weigh in on China’s bid to join yet another economic pact that could draw interest on a global scale
The US appears poised to pursue a digital trade agreement in Asia – What does that mean?
4-Nov-2021 Steptoe
Momentum is building for the United States to pursue a plurilateral digital trade agreement (or possibly a series of bilateral agreements) with trading partners in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Asia-Pacific’s free trade disagreements
2-Nov-2021 The Diplomat
It’s not just the different agreements, per se – the distinctly different models of FTAs are complicating trade regimes in the region.
Biden faces hard sell in Asia for anti-China digital trade pact
15-Jul-2021 Bloomberg
As the US mulls a digital trade agreement to counter China, it faces a key problem: Many countries in Asia don’t want to join any deal seen as challenging Beijing, whose tech giants are deeply entrenched in the region.
Biden team mulls digital trade deal to counter China in Asia
13-Jul-2021 Bloomberg
White House officials are discussing proposals for a digital trade agreement covering Indo-Pacific economies as the administration seeks ways to check China’s influence in the region.
Digital trade deal ripe for the Indo-Pacific
7-Apr-2021 The Hill
US Trade Representative has raised digital trade as an area of potential future cooperation in her coversations thus far with Asian partners.
Why Britain is tilting to the Indo-Pacific region
15-Mar-2021 The Guardian
Critics warn of imperial fantasy but the economic and political forces pulling the UK back to the region are real.