This resource tracked statements, developments, visits, and other interactions in US-Indo-Pacific relations under the President Trump administration. Special focus was given to the comments and activities of President Donald J. Trump; Vice President Mike Pence; United States Trade Representative Ambassador Robert E. Lighthizer; Secretary of State Mike Pompeo; Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, Jr.; former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson; former Secretary of Defense James Mattis; and former Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark Esper.
The Trump Administration & US - Indo-Pacific Relations
All Posts
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U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross Announces Programs to Increase U.S. Commercial Engagement in the Indo-Pacific Region
"Following Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross’s participation in the Indo-Pacific Business Forum today, the Department of Commerce is announcing its plan to dedicate three of its upcoming flagship events to Indo-Pacific themes:
- Discover Global Markets (DGM): Indo-Pacific – will take place in Salt Lake City, Utah, December 10-12, 2018 and will highlight opportunities for U.S. exporters in Asia. It will kick-off recruitment for the Trade Winds: India.
- Trade Winds: India – will take place in New Delhi in the spring of 2019. It will…
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USTR Announces FY 2019 WTO Tariff-Rate Quota Allocations for Raw Cane Sugar
"The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative today announced the country-specific in-quota allocations under the tariff-rate quota (TRQ) on imported raw cane sugar for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 (October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019). TRQs allow countries to export specified quantities of a product to the United States at a relatively low tariff, but subject all imports of the product above a pre-determined threshold to a higher tariff. On June 29, 2018, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the establishment of the in-quota quantity…
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Press Conference by President Trump After G7 Summit
"And it’s very unfair to our farmers. Our farmers are, essentially — whether it’s through a barrier, non-monetary barrier, or whether it’s through very high tariffs that make it impossible — and this is all over the world. This isn’t just G7. I mean, we have India, where some of the tariffs are 100 percent. A hundred percent. And we charge nothing. We can’t do that. And so we are talking to many countries. We’re talking to all countries. And it’s going to stop. Or…
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Secretary Mattis' Meeting with Indian Prime Minister Modi
"On June 2, Secretary Mattis met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ 17th Asia Security Summit, also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, in Singapore. The two discussed the importance of the U.S.-India relationship, and the role of both nations in cooperating to uphold international laws and principles and to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific. The Prime Minister and Secretary pledged to continue the strong U.S.-India strategic partnership and affirmed their commitment to maintaining peace…
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USTR Lighthizer Issues First WTO Counter Notification Against India's Market Price Support
“'The United States expects our trading partners to comply with the reporting requirements they agreed to when joining the WTO,' said Ambassador Lighthizer. 'Accurate reporting and improved transparency of these programs is an important step in ensuring that our trading partners are living up to their WTO commitments and helps achieve more market-based outcomes through the multilateral trading system.' [...] Based on U.S. calculations, it appears that India has substantially underreported its market price support for wheat and rice. When calculated according to WTO Agreement…
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U.S. Department of Commerce Issues Affirmative Preliminary Determination on Polytetrafluoroethylene Resin from India
"Today [March 1, 2018], U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced the affirmative preliminary determination in the countervailing duty (CVD) investigation of imports of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) resin from India, finding that exporters in India received countervailable subsidies of 3.90 percent."
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USTR Lighthizer Announces WTO Challenge to India Export Subsidy Programs
"U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer today announced that the United States has requested dispute settlement consultations with the Government of India at the World Trade Organization (WTO) challenging Indian export subsidy programs. These programs are: the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme; Export Oriented Units Scheme and sector specific schemes, including Electronics Hardware Technology Parks Scheme; Special Economic Zones; Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme; and a duty free imports for exporters program. These apparent export subsidies provide financial benefits to Indian exporters that allow them…