Today, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo spoke with Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoshimasa Hayashi about the importance of continued coordination between the United States and Japan on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF). During their call, the Secretary thanked Minister Hayashi for Japan’s close partnership and support for IPEF ahead of the IPEF Ministerial this week in Los Angeles. Secretary Raimondo also acknowledged the importance of ensuring that IPEF provides opportunities and benefits for all IPEF partners and stated that she looks forwards to progress from the Ministerial. The two also agreed on the importance of continued coordination under the U.S.-Japan Economic Policy Consultative Committee (EPCC, or Economic “2+2”), which convened at the ministerial level in late-July to address shared economic security concerns.
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce