India & 13 IPEF Partner Nations Concluded the IPEF Supply Chain Agreement

Current Context: IPEF Supply Chain Agreement, this is a proposed trade deal among 14 countries in the Indo-Pacific region that aims to boost the resilience, efficiency, and sustainability of supply chains by creating early warning systems for supply disruptions, promoting investments in critical sectors and key goods, and enhancing worker rights and skills.

• The negotiations on the agreement were substantially concluded on May 28, 2023 and it is expected to be signed and ratified by the IPEF partner countries after their domestic processes
• Ensuring that workers and businesses, especially micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises, in the economies of IPEF partners benefit from resilient, robust, and efficient supply chains by identifying disruptions or potential disruptions and responding promptly, effectively, and, where possible, collectively
• Identifying opportunities for technical assistance and capacity building in member countries’ supply chains.

Question:

Q.1 How many countries are part of the IPEF Supply Chain Agreement?
a. 10
b. 12
c. 14
d. 16