Reading: APEC

APEC is a forum for 21 Pacific Rim countries that seeks to promote free trade and economic cooperation throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

KEY TAKEAWAY

  • Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a forum for 21 Pacific Rim countries that seeks to promote free trade and economic cooperation.
  • APEC was established in 1989 in response to the growing interdependence of Asia-Pacific economies and the advent of regional economic blocs.
  • APEC member countries include Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong (Hong Kong, China), Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan (Chinese Taipei), Thailand, United States, and Vietnam.
  • During the meeting in 1994 in Bogor, Indonesia, APEC leaders adopted the Bogor Goals which aim for free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific by 2010, for industrialized economies and by 2020, for developing economies.

Term

  • Bloc:  A group of countries acting together for political or economic goals, an alliance (e.g., the eastern bloc, the western bloc, a trading bloc).

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a forum for 21 Pacific Rim countries (formally Member Economies) that seeks to promote free trade and economic cooperation throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Established in 1989 in response to the growing interdependence of Asia-Pacific economies and the advent of regional economic blocs (such as the European Union) in other parts of the world, APEC works to raise living standards and education levels through sustainable economic growth and to foster a sense of community and an appreciation of shared interests among Asia-Pacific countries.

Member countries are: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong (Hong Kong, China), Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan (Chinese Taipei), Thailand, United States, and Vietnam.

APEC member countries
Map of APEC member countries as of 2009

 

During the meeting in 1994 in Bogor, Indonesia, APEC leaders adopted the Bogor Goals that aim for free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific by 2010, for industrialized economies and by 2020, for developing economies. In 1995, APEC established a business advisory body named the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), composed of three business executives from each membereconomy. To meet the Bogor Goals, APEC carries out work in three main areas:

  1. Trade and investment liberalization
  2. Business facilitation
  3. Economic and technical cooperation

APEC is considering the prospects and options for a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), which would include all APEC member economies. Since 2006, the APEC Business Advisory Council, promoting the theory that a free trade area has the best chance of converging the member nations and ensuring stable economic growth under free trade, has lobbied for the creation of a high-level task force to study and develop a plan for a free trade area. The proposal for a FTAAP arose due to the lack of progress in the Doha round of World Trade Organization negotiations, and as a way to overcome the “spaghetti bowl” effect created by overlapping and conflicting elements of the umpteen free trade agreements. There are approximately 60 free trade agreements, with an additional 117 in the process of negotiation in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region.

GLOSSARY

Community

A group of interdependent organisms inhabiting the same region and interacting with each other. A group sharing a common understanding and often the same language, manners, tradition and law. (See civilization).

Developing

Of a country: becoming economically more mature or advanced; becoming industrialized.

Economy

Collective focus of the study of money, currency and trade, and the efficient use of resources. The system of production and distribution and consumption. The overall measure of a currency system; as the national economy.

Free trade

Free trade is a policy by which a government does not discriminate against imports or interfere with exports by applying tariffs (to imports) or subsidies (to exports) or quotas. International trade free from government interference, especially trade free from tariffs or duties on imports.

Goal

A desired result that one works to achieve. A result that one is attempting to achieve. a result that one is attempting to achieve.

Interdependence

The condition of being interdependent.

Interest

The price paid for obtaining, or price received for providing, money or goods in a credit transaction, calculated as a fraction of the amount or value of what was borrowed. A great attention and concern from someone or something; intellectual curiosity.

Investment

A placement of capital in expectation of deriving income or profit from its use. The expenditure of capital in expectation of deriving income or profit from its use.

Process

A series of events to produce a result, especially as contrasted to product. In reference to capabilities, a process is how the capability is executed.

Prospect

The potential things that may come to pass, often favorable. A potential customer.

Standard

Something used as a measure for comparative evaluations. A level of quality or attainment.

Task force

A group of people working toward a particular task, project, or activity, especially assigned in a particular capacity.