Indo-Pacific nations to deepen economic ties at summit next week

Members of a U.S.-led Indo-Pacific trade framework are arranging for their leaders to gather and issue a joint statement next week in San Francisco, with the focus on strengthening their economic ties in the face of China’s assertiveness in the region, sources familiar with the matter said Wednesday.

The statement will be made at the summit meeting on Nov. 16, and is slated to be the first from the 14 members’ leaders since the trade initiative, officially called the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, began negotiations in September last year.

The members are expected to agree on deepening econo...