On the occasion of IPEF Negotiation Round in Bangkok between 10-16 September 2023, Thailand and the United States jointly organized the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) Stakeholder Listening Session under the theme of “IPEF: Fostering Competitiveness and Inclusivity for Regional Prosperity” at the sideline of the Negotiating Round on 14 September 2023 at Shangri-La Bangkok Hotel. The Session was co-chaired by Mrs. Chulamanee Chartsuwan, Senior Expert on IPEF for Thailand, Ms. Sarah Ellerman, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, and Ms. Sharon Yuan, Counselor, the U.S. Department for Commerce.

Thailand’s IPEF Senior Expert highlighted the objective of the session, which aims to provide opportunities for stakeholders to share their views and advice on how to drive IPEF forward to achieve inclusive and sustainable growth for the benefit of the peoples throughout the region. IPEF principles toward enhancing trade and investment standards, also align with the Royal Thai Government's priority in pursuing proactive economic diplomacy in order to generate more trade and investment opportunities, while strengthening Thailand and region’s economic potentials, digital inclusion, green economy, clean energy transition, connectivity in all dimensions, carbon neutrality, and supply chain resilience for common prosperity and sustainability in the region.

On this occasion, the stakeholder participants shared comments and recommendations beneficial to move forward cooperation under 4 IPEF Pillars, namely Trade, Supply Chain, Clean Economy, and Fair Economy. Possible areas of cooperation that were raised by participants included enhancing digital technology for SMEs’ competitiveness, exchange of logistics information in supply chains, implementation of Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) standard and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology to achieve Net Zero Goals, and supporting people’s cooperation for anti-corruption.

The session was well attended by more than 130 stakeholders from different sectors, including private sectors, academics, and civil society from Thailand and other IPEF Partner Countries, including Australia, Brunei, Malaysia, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, and the Philippines.