A United States trade official will be visiting Manila next week for a series of meetings with government officials and business leaders to discuss the ongoing Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) negotiations.
United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai will touch down Manila on April 17 for a two-day stay before heading to Japan, another US ally in the region.
Photo courtesy of Rep. Katherine Tai's Twitter page
She will meet with senior government officials and trade and economic counterparts, including Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo Pascual, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma and Senate President Zubiri.
Tai will also sit down with business leaders and union representatives and call on US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson.
"Throughout these meetings, Ambassador Tai will emphasize the importance of strengthening the US-Philippines bilateral trade relationship and discuss the ongoing Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) negotiations that aim to create resilient, sustainable and inclusive trade across the region," her office said in a statement.
After Manila, she will fly to Tokyo to meet Japanese senior government officials.
Tai's round of visits is part of part of the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to strengthen ties with key partners in the Indo-Pacific region.