Commentary

Kamala Harris and Asia Policy

Key Takeaways

  • Vice President Harris’ personal views on many Indo-Pacific issues are uncertain given her role as the number-two executive. Harris’ official policy portfolio has focused on other areas, and as part of President Biden’s team, she may continue to defend some of the previous administration’s positions regardless of her personal beliefs.
  • Even so, available evidence suggests that Harris’ approach to Asia policy is unlikely to be an exact copy of Biden’s. Her views expressed during her time as a senator and 2020 presidential candidate show differences from Biden’s. Exposure to greater decision-making authority, wider advisory networks, and new sources of political pressure could alter some of her prior beliefs.
  • Although she rarely engaged with the Indo-Pacific as a Senator, Harris has become broadly familiar with the region as Vice President. She made four official trips to seven nations in East and Southeast Asia since January 2021, underscoring her interest in deepening U.S. engagement.
  • Harris’ approach to Indo-Pacific security cooperation is likely to demonstrate the greatest continuity with Biden’s agenda given their shared pool of advisers. Drawing on guidance from the Biden team, Harris met face-to-face with the leaders of all five of Washington’s Indo-Pacific treaty allies. She also met China’s President Xi Jinping during the November 2022 APEC summit in Bangkok and represented Washington at the September 2023 ASEAN Summit. In short, Harris is a known quantity in the region, which could help build trust.
  • Harris’ views on Indo-Pacific trade policy, however, show some signs of potential divergence from those of the current administration. Seeking union support, Biden took a cautious approach to free trade agreements (FTAs) but still promoted multilateral mechanisms such as the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF). Harris has been more solidly in the progressive camp on trade, opposing trade agreements on both labor and environmental grounds. For example, she opposed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) – which Biden supported.

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