Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

Economic · APEC

A forum with no treaty under it opened at Canberra in November 1989, with twelve economies around the table. Admissions have come in four rounds since, the last of them in November 1998. APEC calls every member an economy, and its membership list names Hong Kong, China and Chinese Taipei in those words. Decisions at its annual meetings are taken by consensus, and none of them binds anyone.

Questions about APEC

Which countries are in APEC?

The forum's own list calls them member economies: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong China, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the United States and Viet Nam. This catalogue files each under the name it uses everywhere else on the site, so the grid above reads Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Vietnam.

Why does APEC say economies instead of countries?

Because of what the membership page states: "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 Seoul Declaration of November 1991 opens participation to economies of the Asia-Pacific region with strong economic linkages there, and leaves later admissions to a consensus of all existing participants.

Is APEC a free trade agreement?

No. Its decisions are non-binding and reached by consensus, and there is no common external tariff: goods crossing between members meet the importing member's own schedule. The Bogor Declaration of 15 November 1994 set target dates of 2010 and 2020 with no obligation attached to either.

Can a new economy join APEC?

The Seoul Declaration of 1991 asks for strong economic linkages in the Asia-Pacific region and acceptance of the forum's objectives and principles, and gives every existing participant a veto by requiring consensus. Ministers endorsed Guidelines on APEC Membership at Vancouver in November 1997 and referred the decision itself to leaders. Peru, Russia and Vietnam were admitted in November 1998, and nobody has been admitted since.

What is the APEC Business Travel Card?

A card valid for five years that streamlines entry into the participating economies, giving its holder fast track immigration processing at major international airports for short-term business travel of up to 60 or 90 days. Canada and the United States are transitional members of the scheme: they offer the fast track lanes at major airports without the reciprocal entry arrangements the other participants grant each other.

Sources

APEC Member Economies · APEC Secretariat. The roster, the dates of admission from 1989 to 1998, and the explanation of why members are called economies.
How APEC operates · APEC Secretariat. Voluntary cooperation, non-binding decisions, the absence of legally binding obligations, and the Secretariat in Singapore at about USD 5 million a year.
Seoul APEC Declaration, 1991 · APEC Secretariat. The objectives, the participation criteria, the consensus rule, and the ministerial and senior officials machinery.
1991 APEC Ministerial Meeting, Seoul · APEC Secretariat. The meeting of 12 to 14 November 1991 and the welcome to the participation of the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei.
1994 Leaders' Declaration, Bogor · APEC Secretariat. The Bogor Goals of 15 November 1994 and the split target dates of 2010 and 2020.
1997 Leaders' Declaration, Vancouver · APEC Secretariat. Individual Action Plans as the core mechanism, and liberalisation proceeding on a voluntary basis.
1997 APEC Ministerial Meeting, Vancouver · APEC Secretariat. The Guidelines on APEC Membership, and the decision on new members left to leaders.
1998 APEC Ministerial Meeting, Kuala Lumpur · APEC Secretariat. The tenth ministerial meeting, its attendance list naming Hong Kong, China, and the welcome to Peru, Russia and Vietnam.
2007 APEC Ministerial Meeting, Sydney · APEC Secretariat. The 30% rise in member contributions from 2009, described as the first increase since 1998.
2010 APEC Ministerial Meeting, Yokohama · APEC Secretariat. Paragraph 56, keeping the question of new membership under continuing review.
2018 Chair's Statement, Port Moresby · APEC Secretariat. The chair's assessment issued in place of a declaration, and the paragraphs on which some economies dissented.
2020 Leaders' Declaration and the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040 · APEC Secretariat. Kuala Lumpur, 20 November 2020: the final review of the Bogor Goals and the vision that replaced them.
APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC and virtual ABTC) · APEC Secretariat. The five-year card, the fast track lanes, stays of up to 60 or 90 days, and the transitional status of Canada and the United States.