VIENTIANE, LAOS – Assistant United States Trade Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific Sarah Ellerman co-chaired the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Ministers – U.S. Trade Representative Consultation on September 20 with Malaithong Kommasith, Minister of Industry and Commerce of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR). Ms. Ellerman underscored the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to advancing the U.S.-ASEAN economic and trade relationship including through the U.S.-ASEAN Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement (TIFA) and supporting the Lao PDR’s 2024 ASEAN Chair theme of “Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience.”
Ms. Ellerman discussed U.S. engagements with ASEAN in the areas of labor, agriculture, sustainability, good regulatory practices, micro, small, and medium enterprise development, trade facilitation, the digital economy, and intellectual property rights, under the TIFA to advance sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
Ms. Ellerman also met with U.S. stakeholders and foreign government counterparts to discuss opportunities to further deepen U.S. trade and investment ties both with Laos and ASEAN as a region.
On September 21, Ms. Ellerman joined ASEAN ministers and other dialogue partners at the East Asia Summit Economic Ministers’ Meeting. During the meeting, Ms. Ellerman discussed supply chain resilience, equitable growth, and the importance of trade and the environment.
U.S. goods and services trade with ASEAN member states totaled an estimated $499.5 billion in 2023. U.S. exports were $161.7 billion; imports were $337.8 billion. ASEAN member states are collectively the United States’ 4th largest goods trading partner. U.S. foreign direct investment (FDI) in ASEAN (stock) was $476.3 billion in 2023 (latest data available).
Ms. Ellerman discussed U.S. engagements with ASEAN in the areas of labor, agriculture, sustainability, good regulatory practices, micro, small, and medium enterprise development, trade facilitation, the digital economy, and intellectual property rights, under the TIFA to advance sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
Ms. Ellerman also met with U.S. stakeholders and foreign government counterparts to discuss opportunities to further deepen U.S. trade and investment ties both with Laos and ASEAN as a region.
On September 21, Ms. Ellerman joined ASEAN ministers and other dialogue partners at the East Asia Summit Economic Ministers’ Meeting. During the meeting, Ms. Ellerman discussed supply chain resilience, equitable growth, and the importance of trade and the environment.
U.S. goods and services trade with ASEAN member states totaled an estimated $499.5 billion in 2023. U.S. exports were $161.7 billion; imports were $337.8 billion. ASEAN member states are collectively the United States’ 4th largest goods trading partner. U.S. foreign direct investment (FDI) in ASEAN (stock) was $476.3 billion in 2023 (latest data available).
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