U.S. Department of State
95/07/27 Fact Sheet: Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
Bureau of Public Affairs



Fact Sheet:  Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation 
 
Background 
 
The Asia-Pacific region, comprising some of the most dynamic economies 
in the world, has experienced unprecedented growth in the last two 
decades.  Economic relations among economies of the region also have 
increased dramatically, fueled by growing trade and financial flows.   
 
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) was established in 1989 to 
better manage the effects of growing interdependence in the Pacific 
region and sustain economic growth.  Originally, APEC was an informal 
group of 12 Asia-Pacific economies.  In November 1991, APEC admitted 
China, Hong Kong, and Chinese Taipei.  In November 1993, Mexico and 
Papua New Guinea joined.  Chile joined in November 1994, bringing 
membership to 18. 
 
APEC provides a forum for discussing a broad range of important regional 
economic issues.  The APEC chair rotates annually among members and is 
responsible for hosting the annual ministerial meeting.  Foreign and 
economic ministers from the members first met in Canberra, Australia, in 
November 1989.  Since then, annual ministerial meetings have been held 
in Singapore, Seoul, Bangkok, Seattle, and Jakarta.  Upcoming 
ministerial meetings will be held in Japan in November 1995, Philippines 
(1996),  Canada (1997), and Malaysia (1998).  Japan hosted periodic 
lower-level meetings throughout 1995 to lay the groundwork for the 
ministerial meeting.   
 
U.S.-APEC Relations 
 
The United States works closely with members of APEC, which is an impor-
tant part of U.S. engagement in the Asia-Pacific region.  President 
Clinton has underscored that the United States is "committed to making 
[APEC] a vehicle for liberalization in the region." 
 
In 1994, U.S. trade with Asia and the Pacific was more than $424 
billion, 70% more than trade with Western Europe. U.S. foreign direct 
investment in APEC member economies was more than $200 billion in 1994, 
about 33% of total U.S. foreign direct investment. 
 
APEC Progress 
 
APEC has grown from an informal dialogue group to a more formalized 
institution that involves all major economies of the region:  China, 
Hong Kong, and Chinese Taipei joined APEC in 1991; APEC established a 
permanent secretariat in Singapore in September 1992;  and, at the 
Novem-ber 17-19, 1993, ministerial meeting in Seattle, Mexico and Papua 
New Guinea joined APEC.  In Seattle, ministers also agreed to the 
Declaration on an APEC Trade and Investment Framework and action plan, 
set up the Committee on Trade and Investment, and extended the non-
governmental Eminent Persons Group's mandate to develop proposals to 
effect its long-term recommendations and vision for Asia-Pacific 
regional economic cooperation. 
 
APEC economic leaders, meeting on Blake Island near Seattle on November 
20, 1993, set forth a vision which recognizes that in the post-Cold War 
era: 
 
We have an opportunity to build a new economic foundation for the Asia 
Pacific that harnesses the energy of our diverse economies, strengthens 
cooperation and promotes prosperity.   
 
The leaders also: 
 
--  Called for a successful conclusion to the Uruguay Round of the 
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade; 
 
--  Called on APEC to expand its economic dialogue and advance its work 
program; 
 
--  Agreed to convene a meeting of APEC finance ministers; 
 
--  Asked business leaders to establish a Pacific Business Forum; 
 
--  Asked APEC to strengthen its policy dialogue on small and medium-
sized business enterprises; and 
 
--  Agreed to establish an APEC Education Program and a Business 
Volunteer Program.  
 
In Bogor, Jakarta, in November 1994, APEC economic leaders reached 
agreement on strengthening economic cooperation within the region for 
the purpose of strengthening the open multilateral trading system, 
enhancing trade and investment liberalization in the Asia-Pacific 
region, and intensifying Asia-Pacific development cooperation. Leaders 
also announced their commitment to achieve "free and open trade and 
investment in the Asia-Pacific." All barriers to trade and investment 
are to be dismantled before 2010 or 2020 by developed and developing 
participants, respectively. 
 
APEC's priority is to encourage market-oriented solutions to the 
adjustment problems associated with quickly growing economies.  APEC 
made significant contributions to negotiations during the Uruguay Round 
and is considering moves toward regional trade liberalization. 
 
APEC Groups 
 
APEC senior officials oversee 10 working groups, covering broad areas of 
economic, educational, and environmental cooperation.  In addition, APEC 
has a Committee on Trade and Investment with customs and standards and 
conformance subcommittees, and an Economic Committee. The working groups 
are: 
 
Trade and Investment Data.  Develops consistent and reliable data in 
merchandise trade, trade in services, and investment. 
 
Trade Promotion.  Develops proposals to exchange trade and industrial 
information and to promote economic and trade missions among economies 
of the region.  Organizes international seminars and meetings to promote 
trade, an Asia-Pacific trade fair, and a training course on trade 
promotion. 
 
Industrial Science and Technology.  Promotes economic growth by 
expanding technology flows and focusing on science and technology issues 
that network potential partners together in the Asia-Pacific region. 
 
Human Resource Development.  
 
Seeks ways to exchange information among Asia-Pacific economies in such 
areas as business administration, industrial training and innovation, 
project management, and development planning.  In this working group, 
the United States hosted an APEC educa-tion ministerial in Washington, 
DC, in August 1992 and sponsors the APEC Partnership for Education 
Program, which promotes university partnerships among U.S. and 
Asian/South Pacific universities, outreach and cooperative education 
activities, and private sector training. 
 
Energy Cooperation.  Develops cooperative projects, such as a regional 
database on energy supply and demand, and exchanges views on, among 
other things, coal utilization, technology transfer, and resource 
exploration and development. 
 
Marine Resource Conservation. Exchanges information on policy and 
technical aspects of marine pollution and advancement of integrated 
coastal zone planning.  Exchanges information on and develops 
recommendations for dealing with red tide/toxic algae pollution 
problems.   
 
Telecommunications.  Compiles annual survey on APEC telecommunications 
development activities, including a description of each member country's 
telecommunications environment.  Explores ways to establish and develop 
regional networks, initially by encouraging electronic data interchange.  
Exchanges information on policy and regulatory developments in each 
member's telecommunications sector.  Disseminates a manual on how to 
approach training in a telecommunications organization, followed by a 
pilot project reviewing needs and recommending solutions in a selected 
organization.   
 
Transportation.  Studies and recommends ways to improve infrastructure, 
facilitate movement of passengers and freight, collect and exchange 
data, and enhance transportation safety and security.  This U.S.-led 
working group is one of three added in March 1991.  The United States 
proposed it because of the importance of improved transportation links 
to continued economic growth in the region. In June 1995, the United 
States hosted an APEC transportation ministerial. 
 
Tourism.  Studies one of the region's most important industries, 
focusing on tourism data exchange, barriers to expansion, training 
programs, and current projects in APEC member economies. 
 
Fisheries.  Surveys the pattern of APEC fisheries cooperation to develop 
fisheries resources.  Reports on the role of APEC in coordinating and 
complementing the work of existing organizations and promoting 
cooperative relations among APEC participants.  

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[BOX] 
 
Participating Economies 
 
Australia 
Brunei 
Canada 
Chile 
China 
Hong Kong 
Indonesia 
Japan 
South Korea 
Malaysia 
Mexico 
New Zealand 
Papua New Guinea 
Philippines 
Singapore 
Chinese Taipei 
Thailand 
United States

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