With the current geopolitics playing out around the world, including war in Europe and China exerting influence into the Pacific, it is crucial Aotearoa is negotiating international partnerships that open up new opportunities for Māori.
The USA’s Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) is a promising initiative that has the potential to reap significant, tangible rewards for all partners if successful.
The framework will set out to define shared objectives around trade facilitation, standards for the digital economy and technology, supply chain resiliency, decarbonisation and clean energy, infrastructure, worker standards, and other areas of shared interest.
The Centre of Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) recently published a report that analyses the framework and outlines some key recommendations of what needs to be done to create an enduring, mutually-beneficial framework.
Written by Senior Vice President for Economics, Matthew P. Goodman, and Senior Adviser and Scholl Chair in International Business, William Reinsch, it was pleasing to see the report equally consider the interests and benefits of the USA and Pacific nations.
The next step will be ensuring indigenous (Māori) interests are incorporated into this new regional (Pacific) arrangement.
