APEC vehicle towards trans-Pacific community<\/p>\n
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum is a
\nvehicle for Asia to define itself in trans-Pacific terms, not
\njust East Asia regional terms, a U.S. administration official
\nsays.<\/p>\n
The U.S. must remain engaged with the region and build a
\ntrans-Pacific community infrastructure if it is to successfully
\nface the economic challenges of the post-Cold War world, said
\nSandra Kristoff, Senior Director for Asia-Pacific Economic
\nAffairs at the National Security Council.<\/p>\n
Kristoff made the statement earlier this year at a seminar on
\nthe challenge of creating a regional economy in East Asia.<\/p>\n
Kristoff said APEC is central to U.S. economic policy in Asia
\nfor five reasons. APEC provides an opportunity for the United
\nStates to build on existing regional integration trends and to
\nuse those trends to help foster global integration efforts, she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
She pointed out that APEC complements the GATT Uruguay Round
\nmultilateral trade liberalization initiatives in Geneva and
\ncontributes to the fight against recurrent tendencies toward
\nprotectionism worldwide.<\/p>\n
Second, Kristoff said, APEC is an appropriate forum in which
\nto explore trade arrangements such as the Association of
\nSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) and
\nthe North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), or between
\neither of those two and the Australia-New Zealand Closer Economic
\nRelations (CER) treaty.<\/p>\n
U.S. role<\/p>\n
APEC is also the ideal format to expand the role of the U.S.
\nin the region, Kristoff noted, adding that this will draw the
\nnation into better trade relations with its partners.<\/p>\n
"APEC is the best vehicle that exists for anchoring the United
\nStates in the region," she said. "This allows it to negotiate
\nwin-win solutions with its trading partners instead of relying on
\naggressive unilateral U.S. trade laws."<\/p>\n
APEC also serves as a focal point for the emerging economic
\ninfrastructure in the region, Kristoff believes. These linkages
\nand networks traverse telecommunications, transportation, energy
\nand environmental concerns and are helping forge the new trans-
\nPacific identity for the region, and one where U.S. business and
\nU.S. policy should be involved.<\/p>\n
The final aspect is that APEC, with an established secretariat
\nin Singapore and a solid work program, can provide considerable
\ninstitutional support for U.S. private development in the Asia-
\nPacific region.<\/p>\n
Kristoff also praised President Soeharto of Indonesia for
\nushering APEC into an exciting new phase with the convening of
\nthe APEC Economic Leaders Meeting (AELM) in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
"We have under President Soeharto the opportunity to make a
\nbold statement about the direction that the region wants to go
\ntoward (in) achieving free trade and investment," she said.
\nCommon tariffs and standards, dispute settlement mechanisms, and
\nsectoral free trade initiatives are all possibilities, Kristoff
\nconcluded.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/apec-vehicle-towards-trans-pacific-community-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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