DelBene Welcomes New Indo-Pacific Economic Framework

Statement

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) released the following statement on the Biden administration's announcement that it will launch negotiations on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF):

"President Biden is returning U.S. leadership and economic engagement to the critical Indo-Pacific region. Engagement in this growing part of the world, where over half of the global economic growth is expected in the next 30 years, is vital to American businesses and workers.

"The framework can construct more resilient supply chains, raise labor standards, facilitate digital trade, open new markets for American farmers, ranchers, and fishers, and bolster regional efforts to combat climate change.

"For Washington state, it is critical for our state's economy, where over 40 percent of our jobs are tied to trade. Washington ports and their workers serve as the gateway to the Indo-Pacific, bringing in semiconductors, cars, and other products from overseas while exporting quality goods like wheat and dairy. Our state has much to gain from these negotiations.

"This is a welcomed departure from the Trump administration's misguided withdrawal from the Indo-Pacific and damaging unilateral trade war against China. The framework can bring together like-minded countries to collectively put pressure on China's unfair trade practices and human rights abuses.

"As Co-Chair of the Digital Trade Caucus, I am encouraged by the IPEF's ambitious digital agenda. I hope to see strong commitments made by our regional partners to address China and other countries' authoritarian model for the digital economy that favors censorship, coercion, and surveillance over human and worker rights, privacy, the free flow of data, and a free and open Internet.

"As an active member of the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, I look forward to working with the Biden administration to build out this deal to ensure it meaningfully delivers for Washington state workers and bolsters American leadership at a time when American values of democracy and freedom are truly under threat."

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