Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Asia

Busy week ahead for our team! Maintaining #traderelations in the #IndoPacific requires constant engagement, and that’s why the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Asia is on the road all week. From September 9-10, Deputy Assistant Secretary Phan will participate as the senior #Commerce official at the third #INDUSXSummit, co-hosted by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum and Stanford University. #INDUSX links government and private sector leaders from the United States and #India to discuss opportunities for deepening the bilateral strategic relationship through #coproduction and #investment in #defense #innovation and #technology. Colleagues from our Office of #EastAsia and #Oceania will also be traveling to other parts of the country—including #Columbus, #Ohio to brief state-level #economicdevelopment and #internationalaffairs officials on U.S.-#Japan #tradepolicy at the #Midwest U.S. Japan Association Conference and #Austin, #Texas to promote U.S.-#Korea #trade and #investment as a participant in the Ambassador’s Dialogue organized by the Korea Economic Institute of America and a roundtable with the Texas Economic Development Corporation. ? Finally, down in #Pucallpa, #Peru, our Office of Multilateral and Strategic Initiatives will help represent the United States at the APEC Perú 2024 #SmallandMediumEnterprises Ministerial Meeting (#SMEMM) from September 9-14. There, International Trade Administration Deputy Under Secretary Diane Farrell will lead the U.S. delegation and advance collaboration in support of SMEs—the true backbone of #inclusive #economicgrowth and #prosperity in the #AsiaPacific, accounting for over 97 percent of all businesses and employing more than half the workforce across the 21 APEC member economies. With so much excitement, you’ll want to stay tuned! #watchthisspace

#DYK that the popularity of #Thai dishes such as #padthai, #mangostickyrice, or #papayasalad are a product of #Culinary and #CommercialDiplomacy? Thai chefs sharing their cuisine at small and medium-sized restaurants across the United States expand the reach of Thai culture, while directly adding value to the U.S. economy. Leveraging the availability of non-immigrant #E2 visas, Thai investors put $32.1 million into the U.S. economy in 2024 through their restaurant #investments, supporting 1,300 American jobs in addition to offering authentic Thai food at almost 200 locales across America.?#Thailand was also the 20th largest #export market for U.S. agricultural products (including #seafood and #forestry products) and the 12th largest supplier to the United States of agricultural #imports in 2022. The #agriculture sector is just one example of our #interconnected and deep U.S.-Thai commercial ties, and you can learn more about that sector here: https://lnkd.in/ed_6QTB4. Later this week, our U.S. Commercial Service office in #Bangkok will come together to share ideas and brainstorm on how to best support U.S.-Thai commercial relations across a wide range of economic sectors. #watchthisspace

Welcome to DC, Director Alex Liao and Deputy Director Michael Chung! Two weeks ago, our #EastAsia and #Oceania team met with the economic division at the #Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (#TECRO) in Washington to welcome Director Liao in his new role and to discuss how we can advance the U.S.-#Taiwan #trade and #economic partnership. Taiwan is an important commercial partner to the United States and one of the fastest growing sources of #foreigndirectinvestment (#FDI) in the U.S. economy, with FDI reaching $21.5 billion in 2023. In 2021, U.S. affiliates of majority Taiwan-owned firms employed approximately 22,100 U.S. workers, invested $185 million in R&D expenditures, and supported $2.4 billion in U.S. goods exports to markets around the world. ??????????? It’s no wonder that in December 2021, the U.S. Department of Commerce and Taiwan launched the #Technology #Trade and #Investment Collaboration (#TTIC) to increase U.S.-Taiwan commercial engagement, two-way trade, investment promotion, and #resilient #supplychains.?In 2023 alone, the American Institute in Taiwan organized and co-hosted with the Ministry of Economic Affairs (Taiwan) a total of 47 events under the TTIC framework. Here’s to doubling down on more collaboration to come!

We are thrilled that with her deep background in urban and #economicdevelopment, Under Secretary Lago will be leading our upcoming #smartcities #trademission to the #Philippines and #Indonesia, two of the most dynamic markets in #SoutheastAsia. U.S. companies interested in joining Under Secretary Lago on this exciting mission still have time to apply! The International Trade Administration is accepting applications until September 6, and details on the mission and how to apply can be found here: https://lnkd.in/g2TpdxqJ *Edited to correct past tense ("has") to future tense ("will be") in first sentence.

U.S.-#Indonesian bilateral relations are 75 years strong, and we are celebrating! On August 25, the Indonesian Embassy hosted the first ever large-scale Indonesian festival in the United States, the “WOW Indonesia! Festival.” Members of the #SoutheastAsia team from our Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Asia enjoyed immersing themselves in Indonesia’s vibrant culture through the parade, performances, and food. ? The momentum continued into the week with a #BusinessForum co-hosted on Monday by the US-ASEAN Business Council (#USABC), the Indonesian Embassy, and Bank Indonesia to celebrate the 75th anniversary of U.S.-#Indonesia relations. There, International Trade Administration (#ITA) Under Secretary Marisa Lago provided keynote remarks focusing on ITA’s work to strengthen #economicties between the United States and Indonesia in #renewableenergy, #criticalminerals, and the #greeneconomy, including through our work under the #IndoPacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (#IPEF). Under Secretary Lago gave a nod to Indonesia’s critical role in IPEF, as well as to USABC for their early and continued support for IPEF, which has been key to unlocking and sustaining IPEF’s long-term benefits for our respective countries’ businesses, workers, and communities. ? Over the past two years, ITA has led three trade missions to Indonesia, and we will soon be coming back for more! This November, we plan to travel to #Jakarta, #Denpasar, and #Nusantara for a #trademission focused on #smartcities. Interested U.S. companies can still apply until September 6 at: https://lnkd.in/g2TpdxqJ. Contact U.S. Commercial Service Indonesia to learn more.

Deputy Assistant Secretary Phan, #Philippines-based Senior Commercial Officer Paul Taylor, and #Philippines Desk Officer Elliott Brewer were pleased to join last week’s virtual Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) Steering Committee meeting, which convened #wholeofgovernment teams from the United States, Philippines, and #Japan to help drive #infrastructure #investment and #development along this important corridor. This was the second such meeting after Leaders from the three countries announced in April that they will collaborate to develop the LEC under the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI)-#IndoPacific Economic Framework (#IPEF) Investment Accelerator. The first Steering Committee meeting took place in May on the sidelines of the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific Business Forum, held this year in #Manila. For more information on the U.S.-Japan-Philippines Leaders announcement, see https://lnkd.in/eRXZFnKa For more on the LEC Steering Committee’s May meeting, see https://lnkd.in/erdb7n28 The LEC Steering Committee works to support connectivity between #SubicBay, #Clark, Manila, and #Batangas in the Philippines and to accelerate coordinated investments in high-impact infrastructure projects, driving further private sector #trade, investment, and #economicgrowth. Sectors of collective interest include #rail, #ports, #agribusiness, #cleanenergy, and #semiconductors. ? Companies looking to do business in the Philippines are invited to apply to join the U.S. Department of Commerce Innovative Technologies for Urban Infrastructure Development Trade Mission here: https://lnkd.in/e2Hd4X8j. Areas of emphasis for this mission include #transportation and urban mobility, #energy, #environmentaltechnologies, among others, aligning well with areas of interest to the LEC Steering Committee. The trade mission will visit the Philippines from November 12-14 and Indonesia from November 14-20. Applications should be submitted no later than September 6 and will be considered on a rolling basis.

With Space Commerce a major priority for the International Trade Administration, the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Asia participated in this meeting with our colleagues at NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. While in attendance, the Office of Asia discussed #supplychain issues in commercial space market, among other topics.?

So happy to welcome two new commercial officers Down Under, Lee Brayman and Melissa Hill, to help us cover and assist U.S. companies in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands Countries! U.S. Commercial Service New Zealand Steve Knode Harold Brayman Melissa Hill

Happy #WomensEqualityDay! In honor of this day, the International Trade Administration (#ITA) is spotlighting our upcoming Global #Diversity #Export Initiative (#GDEI) #trademission to #India, #Singapore, and #HongKong for U.S. businesses that are founded, led, operated, or owned by members of #underservedcommunities, including #women. On Wednesday, the U.S. Commercial Service Singapore will lead a webinar featuring Business Opportunities in Singapore, especially in the #digitaleconomy, #cleanenergy, #environmentaltechnologies, #foodandbeverage, and #healthcare sectors. This FREE webinar helps lay the groundwork for the March 2-8, 2025 GDEI trade mission, which will kick off in #Bangalore, #India with an “Export Markets Providing Opportunities for Women’s Economic Rise (#EMPOWER) Asia Business Conference” from March 3-4, 2025. Register for the webinar today and join us virtually from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM EDT this Wednesday, August 28: https://lnkd.in/e6aMqukb ITA is accepting applications for the GDEI trade mission until December 4. Apply today at: https://lnkd.in/eh_U_xjr

Home to the U.S. Naval Surface Force and the largest concentration of #military assets in the world, #SanDiego was the perfect place to provide a preview of big opportunities for #defensetrade and cooperation with #India in the defense sector. #ICYMI: Our office welcomed the chance to support ?Assistant Secretary (A/S) of Commerce for Global Markets and Director General of the U.S. Commercial Service, Arun Venkataraman, on his trip to San Diego last week to speak at the U.S.-India #Defense #Trade and Security Cooperation Seminar.?Representing the International Trade Administration and joined by Bureau of Industry and Security-U.S. Department of Commerce A/S Thea Kendler, A/S Venkataraman ensured that Commerce’s work featured prominently at this August 19 event organized on the margins of the UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY Gold Coast Conference, in partnership with the National Defense Industrial Association - (NDIA). Other speakers included Deputy Chief of Mission to the United States Sripriya Ranganathan and Minister for Commerce Ajay Kumar from the Government of India. Participants were mostly small and medium-sized enterprises (#SMEs) interested in learning how to take advantage of #export opportunities in the defense sector, while also navigating U.S. #exportcontrols. One of the key priorities of our #SouthAsia team is to aid U.S. companies, including SMEs, in exploring new opportunities enabled by the strengthening strategic partnership between the United States and India. We were excited to see so many businesses proactively engaging with Commerce last week, and we hope to see even more at the next event!