In Search of a US Trade Roadmap Beyond IPEF

The first in-person ministerial meeting since the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework was launched, a Los Angeles gathering in early September, was a success from Washington’s perspective. As Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai welcomed trade ministers from the 13 IPEF member countries, the meeting went beyond simply being a good photo op to visualize the framework’s union. After all, with market access to the United States now clearly off the table, one of the biggest expectations for IPEF is to offer a roadmap for a Washington-led economic coalition in the Indo-Pacific that would push back against Chinese coercion and allow for greater economic collaboration to withstand Chinese pressure. While the four main pillars of IPEF align to further those main interests, it is not enough simply to coordinate with a large number of countries at varying degrees of economic development to implement digital trade, supply chain resilience, energy sustainability, and anti-corruption measures. In addition, it is imperative for Washington to establish an economic coalition that would bolster resilience to both external shocks and Chinese coercion by developing rules as well as structures to protect advanced technology, encourage innovation without fear of intellectual property theft, and establish an ecosystem that would be based on trust among countries that are willing to abide by established rules.