India Elected Vice-Chair of IPEF’s Supply Chain Council

India has been elected as the Vice-Chair of the Supply Chain Council under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF). This appointment highlights India’s critical role in developing a resilient supply chain in the Indo-Pacific region. The election, part of a larger agreement on supply chain resilience, establishes India alongside 13 other IPEF partners in shaping regional supply chain policies.

Key Bodies and Leadership

Under the IPEF’s agreement, three key supply chain bodies have been established:

• Supply Chain Council: USA (Chair), India (Vice Chair)
• Crisis Response Network: Republic of Korea (Chair), Japan (Vice Chair)
• Labor Rights Advisory Board: USA (Chair), Fiji (Vice Chair)

Each body will operate with elected Chairs and Vice-Chairs for a two-year term.

Objectives and Upcoming Meetings

The Supply Chain Council has adopted Terms of Reference and will explore initial priorities in its first in-person meeting in Washington, D.C., scheduled for September 2024. The Crisis Response Network will conduct a tabletop exercise and plan its inaugural meeting alongside the Supply Chain Summit. The Labor Rights Advisory Board aims to enhance labor rights across IPEF supply chains.

Agreement Benefits

The IPEF agreement aims to mitigate economic disruptions from supply chain shocks and improve crisis coordination. It will help member countries, including India, reduce dependency on China and provide timely updates on potential supply disruptions. The council focuses on strengthening supply chains for sectors critical to national security, public health, and economic well-being.

IPEF Overview

Launched on May 23, 2022, in Tokyo, the IPEF includes 14 members: Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the U.S. The framework encompasses four pillars: Trade (Pillar I), Supply Chain Resilience (Pillar II), Clean Economy (Pillar III), and Fair Economy (Pillar IV). India participates in Pillars II to IV and maintains observer status in Pillar I.