To capture the broad perspective of the standards community, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) seeks feedback from its relevant stakeholders by March 21, 2022, on the Office of the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) Request for Comments (RFC) on the Proposed Fair and Resilient Trade Pillar of an Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. ANSI will work with its International Policy Advisory Group (IPAG) to prepare a coordinated response to the RFC.
The RFC is the result of an announcement from President Biden on October 27, 2021, stating that “the United States would explore with partners the development of an Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) that will define our shared objectives around trade facilitation, standards for the digital economy and technology, supply chain resiliency, decarbonization and clean energy, infrastructure, worker standards, and other areas of shared interest."
While the USTR and the Department of Commerce will lead the IPEF's pillars on Fair and Resilient Trade; Supply Chain Resiliency; Clean Energy, Decarbonization, and Infrastructure; and Taxation and Anti-Corruption, the USTR is additionally seeking public comments on “matters relevant to the Fair and Resilient Trade pillar, including U.S. interests and priorities, in order to develop U.S. negotiating objectives and positions and identify potential partners.”
As the March 10 Federal Register notice details, “negotiating an agreement under the Fair and Resilient Trade pillar is an important step towards strengthening U.S. economic engagement in the Indo-Pacific region and promoting durable, broad-based economic growth. Under the Fair and Resilient Trade pillar, the Administration aims to develop high-standard, worker-centered commitments in the following areas: labor; environment and climate; digital economy; agriculture; transparency and good regulatory practices; competition policy; and trade facilitation.” Additionally, the notice emphasizes that “the Administration is not seeking to address tariff barriers” at this time.
The RFC invites stakeholders to submit comments with a focus on the following:
1. General negotiating objectives for the proposed agreement
2. Labor-related matters
3. Environment and climate-related matters
4. Digital economy-related matters
5. Agriculture-related matters
6. Transparency and good regulatory practice issues
7. Competition-related matters
8. Customs and trade facilitation issues
9. Issues of particular relevance to small and medium-sized businesses that should be addressed in the negotiations
10. Other measures or practices, including those of third-country entities, which undermine fair market opportunities for U.S. workers, farmers, ranchers, and businesses
Stakeholders interested in submitting input to inform ANSI’s coordinated response should send their feedback to [email protected] no later than March 21, 2022. Interested parties may also submit comments directly to USTR by April 11, 2022, using the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov (Regulations.gov).