In This Issue:

- Quote of the Week

- U.S.-China Relations

- Trade

- Energy & Environment

- Excerpt from Quote of the Week:

“The Asia-Pacific region – and you know the U.S. is a Pacific power – is one of the world’s most dynamic regions. It contains the top four most populous countries, the three largest economies, many of the world’s fastest growing economies, and a rapidly growing middle class of over half-a-billion consumers. U.S. trade with the Asia-Pacific region was $2.9 trillion in 2013. Nations across the region face choices: Are they going to move toward greater political freedom and respect for universal rights and values? Are they going to open their economies while protecting workers, investors, and the environment? Are they going to strengthen the international and regional system of rule of law to treat all countries fairly? And by doing that, avoid conflict that could lead to loss of life and crippling economic consequences for all of us? We can’t take the answers to any of these questions for granted, and they’re all interconnected.” – Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, April 1, 2015.