Last week, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo embarked on a diplomatic mission to Southeast Asia, representing President Biden‘s interests. In the Philippines, from March 11-12, Secretary Raimondo spearheaded a groundbreaking Presidential Trade and Investment Mission to Manila.
During this visit, she engaged with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to discuss enhancing commercial ties and fortifying resilient supply chains in the Indo-Pacific region, emphasizing the significance of a robust bilateral trade relationship.
Secretary Raimondo convened with the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) of the Philippines to address mutual economic priorities.
Additionally, she participated in roundtable discussions with Filipina businesswomen and labor representatives, underscoring the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to promoting women’s economic empowerment and global labor standards.
Encouraging collaboration between the U.S. and Philippine private sectors, Secretary Raimondo highlighted the historic momentum in their relationship. The mission delegates collectively announced investments exceeding $1 billion, expected to generate educational and employment opportunities for over 30 million Filipinos.
Subsequently, Secretary Raimondo proceeded to Thailand, leading members of the President’s Export Council (PEC) on a visit to Bangkok from March 13-14. The objective was to identify avenues for enhancing commercial ties across various sectors, including manufacturing, digital economy, clean energy, and semiconductor industries.
In Bangkok, Secretary Raimondo held discussions with Thai officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Minister of Digital Economy Prasert Chanthararuangthong, focusing on trade priorities such as digitalization and clean energy.
Meetings with semiconductor industry stakeholders emphasized the importance of global supply chain resilience.
Secretary Raimondo participated in the first ministerial meeting of 2024 with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara and ministers from other Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) partners.
They reaffirmed their commitment to operationalizing the IPEF Supply Chain Agreement and advancing proposed agreements for a fair and clean economy. The Department of Commerce published the proposed agreement texts, signaling progress in strengthening economic cooperation among IPEF partners.
