U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo is spearheading a pivotal presidential trade and investment mission to the Philippines, signaling a strategic move to fortify economic alliances and enhance the United States’ position as a preferred partner in the Indo-Pacific region.
The visit, scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, places a spotlight on the Philippines as a critical hub for regional supply chains and emphasizes the alignment with the U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy. Raimondo expressed the intention to deepen economic engagement in the dynamic Indo-Pacific, home to some of the fastest-growing economies globally.
In an interview, Raimondo clarified that the United States is not compelling countries in the Indo-Pacific to choose between China and the U.S. Instead, the focus is on positioning the U.S. as the economic partner of choice. With both economic and security engagements intensifying between the Philippines and the United States, the leaders are united in countering what they perceive as China’s aggressive actions, particularly in the South China Sea and near Taiwan.
The U.S. delegation accompanying Raimondo includes executives from 22 companies, including United Airlines, Alphabet’s Google, Black & Veatch, Visa, EchoStar/DISH, UPS, Boston Consulting Group, KKR Asia Pacific, Bechtel, FedEx, Mastercard, and Microsoft.
Discussions during the mission aim to foster new U.S. investments and collaborations in the Philippines, with Raimondo expressing optimism about potential investment announcements. Furthermore, the visit sets the stage for future commercial investments, reinforcing the economic ties between the two nations.
Following the Philippines mission, Raimondo will extend the trade and investment mission to Thailand for two days. The focus of discussions in Thailand will include manufacturing, supply chain resiliency, artificial intelligence, and clean technology. Raimondo’s participation in the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Ministerial is expected to further bolster economic ties in the region, building on meetings held in November.
The mission underscores the U.S. commitment to actively participate and invest in the growth and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific, showcasing the nation’s presence and collaboration across various economic sectors.