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Canada and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, established in 1989, has become the pre-eminent economic forum in the Asia-Pacific region. Its primary purpose is to promote sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.

Services and information

Overview of APEC

APEC provides Canada with an opportunity to further strengthen trade and economic ties with some of the Asia-Pacific region’s most dynamic economies.

APEC working for Canadians

APEC is an intergovernmental forum dedicated to promoting free trade and investment, economic growth and development, and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

History and membership of APEC

APEC was established in 1989 in response to the growing interdependence among Asia-Pacific economies and to the need to advance Asia-Pacific economic dynamism and sense of community.

Declarations and statements

Declarations, statements and announcements from meetings at the APEC forum.

APEC publications

The APEC Policy Support Unit is a research and analysis arm for APEC. They undertake research on various topics and synthesize key points into short policy papers to support fora discussions.

APEC awards and prizes

APEC awards and prizes aim to encourage innovation in the Asia-Pacific region, increase health, prosperity and inclusive growth and support and contribute to the implementation of the Bangkok Goals on Bio-Circular-Green Economy.

News

Official Government of Canada news releases, statements and media advisories related to APEC.

Overview of APEC

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, established in 1989, has become the pre-eminent economic forum in the Asia-Pacific region. Its primary purpose is to promote sustainable economic growth, trade and investment, and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. Every year, one of APEC's 21 member economies serves as the forum host. The United States is APEC host for 2023, Thailand hosted in 2022 and New Zealand hosted (virtually) in 2021.

APEC aims to strengthen regional economic integration by removing impediments to trade and investment “at the border”, enhancing supply chain connectivity "across the border" and improving the business environment "behind the border." The goal is to improve the operating environment for business by cutting red tape and other barriers. APEC also helps member economies build the institutional capacity to implement and take advantage of the benefits of trade and investment reform. APEC supports the multilateral trade negotiations underway in the World Trade Organization and complements the goals of the G20.

APEC operates on the basis of non-binding commitments and open dialogue. Decisions made within APEC are reached by consensus, and commitments are undertaken on a voluntary basis. The APEC Secretariat is based in Singapore and provides coordination, technical and advisory support as well as information management, communications, and public outreach services.

Canada and APEC

As a founding member of APEC, the forum provides Canada with an opportunity to further strengthen trade and economic ties with some of the Asia-Pacific region's most dynamic economies.

APEC also serves as a platform to share best practices with key partners on trade, economic integration and structural reform.

The 21 member economies are responsible for more than 60 percent of global economic output, account for 48 percent of world trade in 2021, and are home to close to 37 percent of the world's population.

In 2020, APEC partners accounted for over 82 percent of Canada's total merchandise trade. Foreign direct investment from APEC economies in Canada was $564 billion in 2020. Four of Canada's top five trading partners are APEC members (U.S., China, Mexico and Japan).

More than 20 Government of Canada partner departments are engaged in APEC’s broad agenda ranging from customs procedures and regulatory reform to women’s economic empowerment, mental health and health industry ethics. In this regard, APEC serves a valuable role as an incubator of ideas and provides Canada with an opportunity to shape the Asia-Pacific region’s trade priorities. Global Affairs Canada coordinates Canada’s engagement at APEC.

Private Sector Engagement

Private sector engagement is central to the success of APEC.

The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) represents the interests of business in APEC. ABAC is composed of up to three members from each of the 21 member economies, with business representatives appointed by APEC leaders.

Collectively, they prepare an annual report with recommendations on how to improve the business and investment environment within the Asia-Pacific region. Canada's representation on the ABAC helps advance Canadian business interests in the Asia-Pacific region. Canada is represented at ABAC by Jan De Silva, Special Advisor to the Toronto Region Board of Trade, Timothy Dattels, Senior Advisor to TPG Capital and Chairman of TPG Asia, and Joseph Fung, Managing Partner at Saltagen Ventures.

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada acts as ABAC's Secretariat in Canada.

The annual APEC CEO Summit and regular APEC industry dialogues also provide opportunities for regional business leaders to interact with APEC leaders, global and regional institutions, and business leaders from across the Asia-Pacific for discussions on key issues facing the region.

APEC working for Canadians

APEC is an intergovernmental forum dedicated to promoting free trade and investment, economic growth and development, and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. It operates on the basis of non-binding commitments and open dialogue.

Founded in 1989, APEC responds to growing interdependence among economies in the region. Its work has since expanded to address other key issues such as health, energy and agriculture.

Why is APEC important to Canada?

The APEC region encompasses economies critical to Canada's future economic prosperity and security interests. It remains the only trans-Pacific regional organization that hosts a leaders-level meeting at which Canada is present.

APEC brings together leaders, ministers, senior officials and business representatives, who meet regularly to drive the APEC agenda forward and implement policies and projects across a wide range of issues, from trade and investment facilitation to economic cooperation.

The breadth of APEC's agenda allows for a cross-disciplinary approach to issues, for example, "secure trade" (the economic impact of disruptions in the movement of people and goods).

APEC allows Canada to further engage in bilateral and multilateral discussions and negotiations in one of the world's largest economic zones, where many of our key trade partners are also members.

Since its inception in 1989, growth has increased significantly in the region, with real GDP increasing from US $19 trillion in 1989 to US $52.8 trillion in 2021.

Canada's role in APEC

To ensure that Canadian interests are taken into account within the APEC decision-making process, various Government of Canada departments are active in over 35 APEC working groups and committees.

APEC's activities have also expanded to include discussion of pressing security issues that involve political threats to economic prosperity and growth in the region. Through APEC, Canada will continue to engage key Asia-Pacific partners in countering terrorism, enhancing health, security and infectious disease strategies, and forming global approaches to international energy issues.

History and membership of APEC

APEC was established in response to the growing interdependence among Asia-Pacific economies and to the need to advance Asia-Pacific economic dynamism and sense of community.

APEC began in 1989, when Australia hosted the first annual meeting of Foreign and Trade Ministers from 12 Asia-Pacific economies to discuss ways to increase cooperation in this fast-expanding region of the world. Canada was a founding member of the APEC forum, along with Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and the United States.

In 1993, the United States held the first annual meeting of APEC Leaders to give trade liberalization and economic cooperation further impetus and high-level commitment, to develop a spirit of community in the region and to promote sustainable growth and equitable development.

Between 1989 and 1993, APEC accepted six new members. In November 1991, three members were welcomed into the organization: the People's Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; and Chinese Taipei. In November 1993, APEC accepted Mexico and Papua New Guinea while deciding that Chile would become a full member in November 1994. Peru, Russia and Vietnam were the latest economies to join the organization in November 1998.

APEC now comprises 21 member economies*:

  • Australia
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Canada
  • Chile
  • China
  • Hong Kong, China
  • Indonesia
  • Japan
  • Malaysia
  • Mexico
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Peru
  • Philippines
  • Russia
  • Singapore
  • South Korea
  • Chinese Taipei
  • Thailand
  • United States
  • Vietnam
  • New Zealand

* 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.

There are three official observers: the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretariat, the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC), and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).

Declarations and statements

List of declarations, statements and announcements from meetings at the APEC forum.

APEC publications

The APEC Policy Support Unit is a research and analysis arm for APEC. They undertake research on various topics and synthesize key points into short policy papers to support fora discussions.

APEC awards and prizes

APEC Bio-Circular-Green Award

The APEC Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Award recognizes companies and individuals making positive changes for the Asia-Pacific region’s prosperity and sustainability.

Canada is a co-champion of this new award, which was launched in 2022 at the 2022 APEC Ministerial Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand.

Two winners from each award category will be announced at the 2023 APEC Ministerial Meeting in San Francisco—part of the fall APEC Summit—where they will receive cash prizes.

Learn more about the APEC BCG Award.

APEC Science Prize for Innovation, Research and Education

Launched in 2011, the APEC Science Prize for Innovation, Research and Education (ASPIRE) showcases young scientists and researchers from the Asia-Pacific region who demonstrate excellence in scientific research and international collaboration.

Winners receive a cash prize and are recognized each year at an awards ceremony during a meeting of the APEC Policy Partnership for Science, Technology and Innovation, which oversees the prize.

Learn more about ASPIRE.

APEC App Challenge

Created in partnership with the Asia Foundation and Google, APEC introduced the App Challenge in 2017 to recognize new digital solutions that demonstrate the potential to increase prosperity and inclusive growth across economies in the Asia-Pacific region.

The APEC App Challenge encourages teams to build online tools that promote participation of micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises and other groups with untapped economic potential in global digitally enabled trade and the international marketplace.

Top teams are announced and receive cash prizes during an APEC ministerial meeting organized by the host economy.

Learn more about the APEC App Challenge.

APEC Healthy Women, Healthy Economies Research Prize

In 2019, during its host year, Chile launched the APEC Healthy Women, Healthy Economies Research Prize to raise awareness of and promote the health of women in the Asia-Pacific.

The prize recognizes researchers who are passionate about and make significant contributions to women’s health and provides them with the funding and recognition they need to continue their important work.

The prize winner receives a cash prize and may choose to present their research to APEC gender experts during the annual APEC Women and the Economy Forum. Two runners-up receive cash prizes.

Learn more about the APEC Healthy Women, Healthy Economies Research Prize.

News

List of official Government of Canada news releases, statements and media advisories related to APEC.

All news

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