WASHINGTON听–听New听鲍.厂.听迟谤补诲别听negotiations with听罢补颈飞补苍听肠辞耻濒诲听move more quickly than broader听迟补濒办蝉听with 12听滨苍诲辞–笔补肠颈蹿颈肠听countries given strong interest in Taipei and Washington in deepening economic ties, Deputy听鲍.厂.听罢谤补诲别听Representative Sarah Bianchi said on Thursday.
There are parallels between the newly launched听滨苍诲辞–笔补肠颈蹿颈肠听Economic Framework听迟补濒办蝉听and the听罢补颈飞补苍听talks, Ms. Bianchi told Reuters in an interview, but the latter initiative is aimed at increasing links with听罢补颈飞补苍听on specific economic issues.
“I think we are eager to get going with听罢补颈飞补苍听and to scope out our negotiating mandate there and … a range of iss耻别蝉听from small-medium enterprises to digital听迟谤补诲别听to labor and we look forward to getting going as quickly as possible,” Ms. Bianchi said.
Asked if the听罢补颈飞补苍听initiative聽肠辞耻濒诲听bear fruit sooner then the听滨苍诲辞–笔补肠颈蹿颈肠听Economic Framework (IPEF)听迟补濒办蝉, she said: “Potentially yes, it听肠辞耻濒诲.”
The Chinese-claimed island was excluded from the 14-country IPEF initiative launched last week by President Joe Biden. However,听鲍厂罢搁听announced separate, bilateral听迟谤补诲别听迟补濒办蝉听with听罢补颈飞补苍听on Wednesday.
IPEF, which seeks to return an economic pillar to听鲍.厂. engagement in the region, will include Japan, India, South Korea,听滨苍诲辞nesia, Vietnam, Australia and other countries in the region, but not China.
Ms. Bianchi said IPEF would also get started right away, with plans for discussions, including ministerial-level meetings in coming months to organize the topics for the听迟补濒办蝉听and to begin proposing texts for an agreement by the end of the summer.
CHOOSING PILLARS
The IPEF听迟补濒办蝉听will allow member countries to choose among the key “pillars” in which they will participate, including digital听迟谤补诲别听rules, supply chain resiliency and听迟谤补诲别听facilitation, infrastructure development and strong labor rights and environmental standards.
But participation in all pillars is not required, and initial meetings will focus on defining which ones countries will choose, Ms. Bianchi said. Countries that choose only one or two can still have meaningful engagement with the United States and other IPEF members, she said.
Neither the IPEF nor the听罢补颈飞补苍听迟补濒办蝉听will include the tariff reductions and enhanced market access offered by traditional free听迟谤补诲别听agreements.
Ms. Bianchi said IPEF is meant to be a “21st century agreement to really address 21st century problems,” including barriers to digital听迟谤补诲别听such as data localization requirements or onerous regulations that make it difficult for companies to operate in some countries. Fixing these problems will also enhance market access, she said. – Reuters
