The first Pacific island nation to join the new US economic initiative

Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama of Fiji – Photo: REUTERS

According to Reuters news agency, on May 26, the White House said the island nation of Fiji would join the Indian Ocean Economic Framework – Pacific For Prosperity (IPEF) of US President Joe Biden.

It is the first island nation in the Pacific to join the IPEF, an initiative seen as part of the Biden administration’s efforts to counter China’s growing influence in the region. Mr. Biden officially announced the initiative during his five-day Asia tour.

The announcement of the White House was made in the context of the Chinese foreign minister starting a visit to eight countries in the Pacific Ocean from May 26 to June 4. These countries include the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste (East Timor).

The White House welcomes Fiji’s becoming a founding member of the IPEF. The initiative currently involves countries from Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, South Asia, Oceania, and the Pacific.

“Geographically, we are united in our commitment to a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region,” said US national security adviser Jake Sullivan.

Fiji is the 14th country to participate in the IPEF negotiations. An official in the Biden administration pointed out that with Fiji participating, the IPEF now fully represents the diversity of the Indo-Pacific region.

The birth of IPEF took place in the context of the US lack of an economic pillar in the strategy of expanding influence in the Indo-Pacific since former US President Donald Trump withdrew Washington from Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

The White House said IPEF does not exempt participating countries from tariffs (including the US, Japan, India, Malaysia, the Philippines…) but helps address issues ranging from climate change to capacity supply chain recovery and digital commerce.