WASHINGTON: US Trade Representative Katherine Tai will visit Japan from Nov. 15 for the first time since she took office in March, the Office of the USTR said Friday.

After visiting Tokyo, Thai will travel to Seoul on Nov. 18 and New Delhi on Nov. 22.

Her Asian swing is aimed at strengthening relations with the allies and friendly nation in the Indo-Pacific region, which share values with the United States, in order to counter China, which US President Joe Biden calls the most serious competitor for the United States.

In Tokyo, Tai is expected to hold talks with Japanese government officials, including the foreign minister and the trade minister. They hope to reaffirm the importance of Japan and the United States working in step with each other to oppose China’s infringements on intellectual property rights and unfair trade practices such as subsidies to state-owned enterprises, sources said.

Thai and the Japanese officials are also expected to exchange views on alleged force labor in China’s Xinjiang Uighur autonomous region.

In addition, they plan to review progress in the implementation of the Japan-US trade agreement and digital trade accord that came into force in January.

The Biden administration puts great value on the Quad framework of the United States, Japan, Australia and India from the viewpoint of enhancing economic security. The four countries are exploring cooperation in creating supply chains for semiconductors to reduce reliance on China.

JIJI Press