Economic framework for prosperity advances objectives that are not in Asia-Pacific's interests

With ministers from 14 countries participating in the "Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity "in Los Angeles for their first in-person meeting, the United States-proposed mechanism may finally take a visible step off the drawing board.

Little has been said or heard from the two previous ministerial meetings held virtually since US President Joe Biden launched the framework during his May visit to Japan. But given its purpose the IPEF may remain on the drawing board even after the Los Angeles meeting.

The Los Angeles ministerial gathering is reportedly aimed at a structure capable of securing chains of critical supplies such as chips and rare earths, "even in times of natural disasters and other contingencies", and enhancing cooperation on new and renewable energy.