APEC’s 21 members represent 41% of the global population, 49% of international trade and 56% of the world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). A product can be more easily exported with just one set of common standards across all economies. APEC's 21 member economies are Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; People's Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; The Philippines; The Russian Federation; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; United States of America; Viet Nam. [4]  Key to achieving APEC’s vision are the Bogor Goals, which were adopted by the leaders at their 1994 meeting in Bogor, Indonesia. Retrieved August 29, 2013, from JSTOR.3. @pleonasm - It's not usually APEC that gets protested, although the individual leaders at the APEC meeting might draw a crowd. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a regional economic forum established in 1989 to leverage the growing interdependence of the Asia-Pacific. (1989, December 3). Japan Spotlight, 29(5), 10. For example, in Peru they all wore ponchos. Retrieved August 29, 2013, from IDE-JETRO APEC Study Center Series FY 1995/1996 website: http://www.ide.go.jp/English/Publish/Download/Apec/pdf/1995_05.pdf 2. This includes ensuring disaster resilience, planning for pandemics, and addressing terrorism. [7]The APEC Secretariat is based in Singapore. 6 (p. 4). In APEC, all economies have an equal say and decision-making is reached by consensus. There are a few on that list that seem like they wouldn't want to be involved with the others. APEC benefits citizens of member nations by creating more opportunity in the workplace, less expensive goods and services and increasing the ability to participate in the international market. The word 'economies' is used to describe APEC members because the APEC cooperative process is predominantly concerned with trade and economic issues, with members engaging with one another as economic entities. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a regional economic forum established in 1989 to leverage the growing interdependence of the Asia-Pacific. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation: Background guide 2012 (pp. It was established in 1989 in response to the growing interdependence of Asia-Pacific economies and the advent of regional economic blocs. [3] APEC operates on the basis of non-binding commitments and open dialogue. These goals are to have free and open trade and increased foreign investment in member economies by 2010 for developed economies, and 2020 for developing economies. APEC projects also target specific policy areas from enhancing small and medium enterprise competitiveness to facilitating the adoption of renewable energy technologies in the region. APEC's 21 members aim to create greater prosperity for the people of the region by promoting balanced, inclusive, sustainable, innovative and secure growth and by accelerating regional economic integration. These funds pay for APEC programs as well as a small Secretariat located in Singapore. APEC is established Nov 1989 The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), which is an inter-governmental grouping, was established in November 1989 to facilitate trade and economic cooperation within the Asia-Pacific community. Mexico and Papua New Guinea followed in 1993. (c2013). APEC completes the Mid-Term Stock-take of Progress towards the Bogor Goals. Beyond Bogor: Reflections on APEC’s future (cover story). The Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a cooperative effort of 21 countries with a common goal of improving free trade in this region. There is no treaty to sign, rather APEC functions by consensus and cooperation. (2010, December). APEC operates as a cooperative, multilateral economic and trade forum. Every now and then you'll hear about the APEC leaders meeting, and maybe about some protests that are going on because of that, but economics always seems like such a difficult subject to understand. APEC's 21 members aim to create greater prosperity for the people of the region by promoting balanced, inclusive, sustainable, innovative and secure growth and by accelerating regional economic integration. (2012, April). APEC leaders’ meeting: The Bogor Goals and beyond. APEC has met every year since 1993, and in addition to its goals, discusses evolving issues such as women in APEC, terrorism, transparency standards, corruption and pandemics that potentially affect trade. By 1996, the post ministerial conferences had expanded to embrace 12 members (the then six members of ASEAN and its six dialogue partners). First established in 1989 with 12 member countries in Canberra, Australia, APEC has made great strides in facilitating and improving trade among its member countries. In the first decade after its creation, the economies of the member nations accounted for 70% of global growth economically. Growing interest in Asia-Pacific is good: BG Lee. Aggarwal & Volberding, 2010, p, 10.7. 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 and the North American Free Trade Area) 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 … Retrieved August 29, 2013, from National Model United Nations website: http://www.nmun.org/ny_archives/ny12_downloads/igos/APEC.pdf ; Hirano, A. Retrieved August 29, 2013 from Cabinet Office, Government of Japan website: http://www.gov-online.go.jp/pdf/hlj/20101201/20-25.pdf8. By pooling resources, member nations can share information, and increase the wealth for businesses and individuals. There are three main areas APEC focuses on: Trade and Investment Liberalization: In this area, APEC works to reduce tariffs and remove other obstructions to free trade. APEC 21 membership include; Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and the United States. Every year, one member country plays host to the meeting. What is Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation? China, Hong Kong, China and Chinese Taipei joined in 1991. Leadership in the Secretariat rotates, depending on who is hosting the meeting that year— the Executive Director is from the host country that year, and the Deputy Executive Director is from next year’s host country. Highlighting Japan, 20–22. APEC Secretariat. Member economies participate on the basis of open dialogue and respect for views of all participants. In 1993, the United States held the first annual meeting of APEC Leaders at Blake Island, near Seattle, to give trade liberaliz… 20 years of APEC: Making compromises and building consensus. APEC has 21 members. (2013). Intellectual Property Rights Experts Group, Sub-Committee on Standards and Conformance, SOM Steering Committee on Economic and Technical Cooperation, Experts Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade, Policy Partnership on Science, Technology and Innovation, Policy Partnership on Women and the Economy, Free Trade Agreements and Regional Trading Agreements, Free Trade Agreements and Regional Trade Agreements. You can just go straight on through, which is a real plus when you're visiting several countries in a row. Legal aspects of the institutionalization. APEC Secretariat. [5]Since 1994, APEC had been under pressure to implement its Bogor Goals, particularly within the context of the competing presence of other regional and international forums such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), which also champion prosperity of the region through trade. APEC works to establish anti-“protectionist” policies in member nations by reducing tariffs and doing away with other free-trade obstructions. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), which is an inter-governmental grouping, was established in November 1989 to facilitate trade and economic cooperation within the Asia-Pacific community. I'm not sure at what level you'd have to be though, since I'm sure they probably don't issue them to people who are just selling jewelry out the back of their car. Funding for projects is made possible by contributions from APEC members. The Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a cooperative effort of 21 countries with a common goal of improving free trade in this region.