IFPTE Joins Over 100 Organizations Calling for Transparent and Participatory Negotiating Process for the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) and Future Trade Negotiations
As the high-level trade negotiators from 14 nations prepare, including the U.S., prepare to begin negotiations on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), a diverse group of over 100 organizations that includes IFPTE urged the Biden Administration to increase transparency and public participation during the negotiation process.
The letter, addressed to President Biden, asks that:
if the U.S. moves forward with IPEF or other trade negotiations, the U.S. publish draft versions of its proposals and solicit public comment upon them prior to tabling them. IPEF negotiations should be announced in advance and include broad public stakeholder engagement and interactions with negotiators from each nation. U.S. proposals, other countries’ proposals, related materials and any consolidated texts must also be quickly published after each negotiating round so that the public can review and comment on the latest proposals while there is still opportunity to make real changes.
IPEF was announced in late May by President Biden as a trade and economic partnership that includes Australia, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Biden Administration factsheet on IPEF states that negotiations will focus on “four key pillars to establish high-standard commitments that will deepen our economic engagement in the region:” 1) a connected economy; 2) a resilient economy; 3) and clean economy; 4) a fair economy. With the Administration and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai’s commitments to labor standards, trade fairness, and making sure the U.S. does not go down the road of negotiating another Trans-Pacific Partnership, the letter calls for making sure labor, environmental, and civil society stakeholders are an integral part of the negotiation process.
Other unions signing on to the letter include the Communication Workers (CWA), Boilermakers (IBB), Teamsters (IBT), Machinists (IAMAW), OPEIU, Transport Workers Union of America (TWU), UNITE HERE, Carpenters (UBC), and the Steelworkers (USW).