The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) seeks to establish the United States (US) as the primary rule-setter in the Asia Pacific (APAC), a position it has ceded to China in recent years. The reciprocal benefits for the APAC are not so evident. Many in the region are not keen to choose sides and as a trade pact, it compares poorly with the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).