ASIA-PACIFIC Economic Cooperation (APEC) ministers have pledged to advance trade integration, strengthen supply chains, and accelerate digital and AI-driven transactions amid rising global uncertainties.
In a joint statement released on Saturday after the two-day 32nd APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting in Suzhou, China, the ministers reaffirmed a commitment to advance regional economic integration in a market-driven manner, including through the work on the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific.
“We will continue working together to enhance experience sharing, capacity building, business engagement and technical cooperation among members, including through the Capacity Building Needs Initiative,” they said.
The ministers said they would also support efforts to promote high standards and increase areas of convergence in trade agreements to improve the investment environment for businesses and people in the region.
They reaffirmed a commitment to keep supply chains resilient, particularly for essential goods such as fuel.
“We recognize that it is in our mutual interest that our region remains interconnected and trade corridors remain open, to facilitate trade flows, including energy supplies and other essential goods,” they said.
The ministers urged completion of the final review of the Supply Chain Connectivity Framework Action Plan III by November 2026 and called for greater private sector involvement.
“We encourage greater engagement of the private sector in APEC’s supply chain discussions, including through public-private dialogues. We recognize the collaborative role of existing platforms in APEC that promote supply chain connectivity and trade facilitation.”
As for food supply, the ministers committed to advancing concrete actions to strengthen food security and enhance the resilience of agri-food systems across the region.
To advance connectivity, they further encouraged APEC members to take into account the findings and recommendations from a final review of the APEC connectivity blueprint.
For micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), the ministers committed to supporting their participation in regional and global markets.
“We will continue to promote greater access to capital, assets, markets, and skills training for all, including through capacity-building initiatives for all who seek access to economic and trade opportunities,” they also said.
The ministers committed to strengthening the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights as well as addressing challenges faced by innovators, creators and brand owners.
An impasse at the WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference, meanwhile, was said to have showed the need for meaningful reform to make the organization more responsive. They welcomed the acceptance of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies by 17 APEC economies and supported a moratorium on customs duties for electronic transmissions.
With regard to the region’s digital economy, the ministers said they looked forward to the continued implementation of the APEC Internet and Digital Economy Roadmap.
They likewise encourage economies to strengthen affordable and resilient digital infrastructure, promote capacity building, accelerate interoperability, address online harms and enhance digital literacy and skills to facilitate digital transformation.
“We will continue our cooperation on facilitating the flow of data across borders, and strengthening business and consumer trust in digital transactions, in addition to ensuring data protection and privacy,” they added.
The ministers reaffirmed a commitment to facilitate paperless trade by promoting the cross-border recognition of electronic trade-related documents alongside capacity-building efforts.
In addition, they called for continued efforts to enhance security, accessibility, trustworthiness, and reliability to realize the benefits of artificial intelligence for all.
This includes fostering the adoption of AI in international trade and regional information and communications technology ecosystem development, with a focus on information exchange, cooperation and capacity building.
