Biden welcomes Southeast Asia, the lightest trade deal in sight
Leaders of countries in Southeast Asia are welcomed in Washington on Thursday to show the United States’ commitment to the region in the face of China’s growing hunger.
Joe Biden on May 11, 2022 in Chicago.
AFP
Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the US president had clearly defined his first priority in the international arena: the rivalry was related to the conflict with Beijing.
The summit with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will begin with dinner on Thursday before other meetings on Friday, and should allow the Democratic Party, which has been monopolized for months by the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, to reaffirm its Asian policy.
Kurt Campbell, chief adviser to Asia, explained that the United States would like to discuss cooperation with Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Brunei in areas such as the fight against Covit-19.
Economic structure of the Indo-Pacific region
He also said he expects some “significant interest” in these countries in the Indo-Pacific Economic Structure (IPEF), a recent US trade initiative announced by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken during a visit to Jakarta in late 2021. Kurt Campbell, a guest on Wednesday at the United States Institute of Peace Think Tank, promised that “we have good faith that we will be able to hold substantial releases with players of great potential.”
Koji Domita, Japan’s ambassador to Washington, made it clear at a separate event that he expects the IPEF to formally launch next week, following Joe Biden’s much-anticipated visit to Tokyo and Seoul.
Former Democrat President Barack Obama has proposed the Trans-Pacific Free Trade Agreement (TPP), which was presented at the time as a key tool for the United States to take the lead in the region, which he already had as a priority.
But his Republican successor, Donald Trump, backed the deal, which, in his sovereignty, was seen as detrimental to American workers. Yet Joe Biden, the Obama-era vice president, made it clear that he was not in a hurry to renew the big free trade deals, along with even more protectionist views.
There is no “new Cold War”
Experts say IPEF plans to work with stakeholders on economic priorities such as improving supply chains after the outbreak, combating corruption or promoting clean energy. But unlike traditional trade agreements, this initiative does not guarantee market access to the United States, the world’s largest economy – it is generally offered to obtain concessions from other countries.
Kurt Campbell assured President Biden that he did not want to embark on a “new Cold War” in Asia and that any trade agreements would meet the “needs” of the people of the region.
China has been ASEAN’s largest trading partner for more than a decade, despite intense regional tensions between Beijing and several councilors such as Vietnam and the Philippines.
The Washington summit comes as the United States continues to put increasing pressure on Burma for more than a year in retaliation for the February 2021 military coup. May be represented by an empty chair during meetings.
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