For more information on how these developments may affect your business, please contact Nicole Bivens Collinson at (202) 730-4956 or via email.
Asia
The Department of Commerce reports that the U.S. will hold a hybrid ministerial meeting in Thailand next month with its Indo-Pacific Economic Framework partners. Participants concluded virtually all work on three of the four IPEF pillars last November but were unable to reach an agreement on trade issues. The DOC did not indicate whether trade will be among the topics of discussion at the upcoming ministerial.
While in Thailand, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and members of the President’s Export Council will discuss ways the two countries can strengthen their economic relationship across a number of critical issues, including manufacturing, supply chain resiliency, artificial intelligence, and clean technology.
WTO
The World Trade Organization is holding a ministerial meeting this week in the United Arab Emirates, and at press time it was unclear whether WTO members would be able to finalize agreements on issues like e-commerce duties, fisheries subsidies, and dispute settlement before the meeting’s conclusion. Going into the meeting U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said U.S. priorities included restoring transparency, rebuilding the WTO to address modern challenges, and reforming the dispute settlement system.
Export Controls
The Bureau of Industry and Security reports that in a Feb. 21 meeting the U.S., Japan, and South Korea agreed to further align on Russia export controls, collaborate on outreach to countries in Southeast Asia, and cooperate on export controls for critical and emerging technologies.
FTAs
According to an Arab News article, the United Arab Emirates and Peru have announced plans to begin negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement this year. The article notes that this agreement would be the first for each country in the other’s region.
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