Biden Will Invite Allies To Negotiate Trade Policies Against China

US President-elect Joe Biden (Source: Reuters / Antara)

JAKARTA - The future of relations between China and the United States (US) became a big question after Joe Biden was appointed the elected president of the United States (US). Most recently, Biden raised the importance of the US negotiating with allies on global trade rules to counter China's growing influence.

Biden declined to say whether he would join a new China-backed Asian trade pact signed on Sunday, November 17. Asked in the middle of a press conference in Wilmington, Delaware, Biden said he could not yet discuss US trade policy considering he had not officially become president.

This means that the United States' participation in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement of 15 countries that focuses on Asia is also uncertain. "We make up 25 percent of the world economy," Biden said of the United States.

"We need to align with other democracies. Another 25 percent or so so we can set the rules of the road, instead of having China and others dictate outcomes."

The signing of the RCEP at a regional summit in Hanoi created the world's largest trade agreement, covering 30 percent of the global economy and 30 percent of the global population. The agreement marks the first time that three Asian powers have joined: China, Japan and South Korea.

It also marks another setback for US influence in the region after President Donald Trump in 2017 withdrew from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade pact, negotiated while Biden was vice president. Biden said he has a detailed trade plan that he will discuss on January 21, 2021, the day after he will be sworn in.

Meanwhile TPP members, including Japan and many supporters of free trade have expressed hope that Biden will rejoin the trade pact. Biden has said little on the issue and advisers have said he will not immediately remove tariffs on Chinese goods.

Biden said he had told leaders that the United States would approach trade by insisting that Washington would "invest in American workers and make them more competitive," ensuring that labor and environmental interests were represented in any new trade negotiations.

Asked why he did not comment on the planned trade agreement when he said he would rejoin the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Agreement, Biden said: "You asked me whether I would join any particular proposal, details of which are now only negotiated between countries. -that country. It will require negotiation. "