Sen. Sasse, colleagues seek greater Indo-Pacific trade activity

Senate Finance Committee Republicans have forwarded correspondence to President Joe Biden, urging the administration to initiate increased Indo-Pacific trade activity.

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U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE) joined 13 other legislators in urging actions resulting in digital trade negotiations with America’s Asian allies and partners.

“[D]uring your Administration, the United States continues to sit on the sideline,” the lawmakers wrote. “Our refusal to get into the game to set the rules for trade in the Indo-Pacific encourages potential partners to move forward without us and ensures China will hold the reins of the global economy.”

The legislators maintain China is seizing initiative for trade policy in the East to the detriment of United States interests, citing 15 countries that makeup 30 percent of global Gross Domestic Product have agreed to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) – a trade deal China supports.

“The United States must show effective leadership on trade; it must do so promptly; and it must do so together with the Administration and Congress working as one,” the legislators concluded. “To reestablish leadership in trade policy, the United States must — as a start — negotiate and conclude high standard rules for digital trade with our partners in the Indo-Pacific. This is an area of critical importance to the United States, and one in which the United States, and its Asian allies, are innovators and leaders.”

The lawmakers urged immediate action on the request, requiring digital rules reflecting American values while ensuring free-flowing data, prohibiting discriminatory measures, supporting consumer protection, promoting cybersecurity, protecting human rights, and combating censorship – among other provisions.