Joe Biden’s plan to unveil a crucial part of his Indo-Pacific economic strategy has been derailed by opposition from Congressional Democrats just as the US president prepares to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco.
The US intended to conclude critical elements of its Indo-Pacific Economic Framework trade pillar at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum this week. It would have signalled to China that the US and its partners could co-operate on a strategy Washington hoped would counter rising Chinese economic clout.
But the White House has abruptly reversed course following pressure from influential Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown and other Democrats who worry about the effect of a new trade deal on their election prospects next year.