What Is Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) And Why India Has Opted Out Of Its Trade Pillar

The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) was launched jointly by the US and other partner countries of the Indo-Pacific region on May 23 in Tokyo. The 14 IPEF partners represent 40 per cent of global GDP and 28 per cent of global goods and services trade.

It seeks to strengthen economic partnership among participating countries with the objective of enhancing resilience, sustainability, inclusiveness, economic growth, fairness and competitiveness in the region.

The 14 members of the IPEF are -- Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the US.

The framework is structured around four pillars relating to trade, supply chains, clean economy, and fair economy.

Why India Has Opted Of IPEF's Trade Piillar

India has not yet agreed to the commitments of the trade pillar of the 14-member Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) and will wait for further clarity on the issue, a top official said on Friday.

Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal attended the first in-person ministerial meeting of the two-day IPEF, which concluded here.

The framework is structured around four pillars relating to trade, supply chains, clean economy, and fair economy.

"India has agreed to the remaining three pillars (supply chains, clean economy, and fair economy). We are not yet clear on the binding commitments of the trade pillar. So we will wait and see what are the commitments set out in further deliberations and we will act accordingly," the official said.

India cannot agree on free agriculture trade, but if it is about high standards of export, "we are agreeable. India has stood up to its own interest and we can't be arm-twisted like other smaller countries," the official added.

India will act in national interest, the official said, adding India can opt after it is clear about the commitments.

Goyal had earlier stated that India will take decisions on different aspects of IPEF based on its national interest.

"Right now, the forum's focus is on policy and rules and not so much on market access. So, we will be keeping track of the discussions at the official level and decide on our next course of action," the official added.

(With PTI inputs)