U.S., Australia highlight ‘shared interest’ in continuing IPEF trade talks

Following a ministerial meeting this week, the U.S. and Australia highlighted “shared interest” in advancing “high-standard” negotiations under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity’s trade pillar, which has yet to yield an agreement. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with their Australian counterparts, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong and Defense Minister Richard Marles, in Annapolis, MD, on Tuesday “to strengthen further the U.S.-Australia Alliance and the two countries’ cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and globally,”...