Apec Member Economies Laying Groundwork For Regional Trade Progress

SINGAPORE, April 4 (Bernama) -- The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is moving ahead with efforts to evaluate and identify initiatives that support freer, faster and more beneficial trade in the region. Concluding its weeklong cluster of meetings Tuesday, the APEC Committee on Trade and Investment and related policy groups met for the second time this year with a focus on APEC 2012 priorities. Specifically, the focus was to foster regional economic integration in the Asia-Pacific, establish reliable supply chains, expand regulatory convergence and cooperation, and foster innovative growth. APEC member economies examined mechanisms to better chart their progress towards realising the goal of free and open trade and investment in the region. Delegates noted progress on the implementation of the work programme on next generation trade and investment issues endorsed last year by APEC Economic Leaders, particularly policies related to innovation and trade, as well as participation of small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) in global production chains. Officials also considered proposals to identify and address additional growth issues, as instructed by the leaders. The chair of the APEC Committee on Trade and Investment, Monica Contreras said: "APEC members clearly remain united in their desire to build on measures that drive forward trade and investment, while critical to bringing our region closer together to power economic activity that spurs more robust, sustainable growth and prosperity." Members also examined how to improve connectivity within the supply-chain by addressing chokepoints, so as to facilitate the flow of trade and services, and reduce transaction costs and delays to benefit economic operators, including SMEs that are the backbone of the APEC region’s economies. Environmental goods and services, whose trade growth is outstripping that of other goods, was also a topic in the committee’s agenda. Contreras said there is still a lot of work to be done, but the progress made in Singapore this week demonstrates the APEC economies’ commitment to positively contribute to green growth and sustainable development objectives. The committee further recognised the importance of engaging the regulatory community and industry as essential to reeling in the challenges associated with growth. The APEC Committee on Trade and Investment and related dialogues will meet again in Kazan, Russia, to review progress ahead of a meeting of APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade on June 4-5. -- BERNAMA