List of APEC Countries: Pacific Rim Members

APEC Overview

What is APEC?

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, or APEC if you fancy acronyms, got its start in 1989. It’s like a big neighbors’ club, but instead of borrowing sugar, these guys are all about making everyone richer in the Asia-Pacific neighborhood. They’re into things like balanced, inclusive growth, and trying to make sure goods, services, investments, and folks are crossing borders as easily as crossing the street

APEC’s Founding and Goals

So, what was cooking when they set this thing up? They had a few big ideas in the pot. Mainly, they wanted to make it easier to trade and invest across the board. The whole shebang includes sparking economic growth and buddying up the nations in this corner of the planet

One biggie in APEC’s saga happened back in ’94 when they introduced the “Bogor Goals” during a sit-down in Bogor, Indonesia. The deal was: industrial members work toward free and open trade and investment by 2010, the developing gang gets until 2020. They’re all about chat and respect, making decisions by consensus. No one’s bound by treaty rules here, unlike what goes down at the World Trade Organization

Understanding the groundwork and ambitions of APEC gives you a good look at why it’s a key player in ramping up trade and hanging out with its member economies. Feeling curious? You can dive deeper into the list of APEC countries.

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APEC Member Economies

List of APEC Countries

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) club is a party of 21 mighty economies sprinkled around the Pacific Rim. These players pack a punch, making up about 62% of the world’s economic mojo and 48% of global trade back in 2021 (APEC). Here’s who’s in the gang:

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

Need more lists? Check our other articles on east africa list of countries and list of do not travel countries.

APEC Members’ Contributions

APEC economies aren’t just sitting on their hands; they’re movers and shakers of the world market. Together, they’ve been making big dents in global GDP and trade:

Grabbing over half of the world’s real GDP in buying power, worth about US$35.8 trillion in 2011 for APEC (they’re not ones to mess with) (APEC).
Tackling more than 44% of world trade (APEC).

Contribution Area	Percentage
World GDP (2021)	62%
World Trade (2021)	48%

APEC’s members aren’t slouches when it comes to making business smoother too. Between 2009 and 2013, they slicked up business operations by 11.3%, speeding up things like getting construction permits and launching companies (APEC).

APEC Achievements and Benefits

Since it kicked off, APEC’s been stacking up some serious wins. Here’s a taste of what’s been going down:

Economic Growth: APEC’s GDP spiked from USD 19 trillion in 1989 to a whopping USD 52.8 trillion in 2021, while per capita income nearly quadrupled (APEC).
Poverty Alleviation: All that economic growth? It’s been lifting folks out of poverty by the millions.
Trade Easier Than Ever: Smoother customs and business regulations helped jack up business efficiency by 11.3% across the board over four years (APEC).

Curious about how these contributions shake up global trends? Explore list of countries by military spending and list of countries by oil production.

APEC isn’t just spinning wheels; it’s been a powerhouse in boosting economic growth, trade, and business maneuverability. Their work propelling major initiatives in trade facilitation ensures member economies, and the world at large, reap serious benefits from all these efforts.

APEC Structure

Figuring out how the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is structured gives you a peek into how this forum makes things happen. It’s all about mixing different methods to get stuff done, coming at it from both ends.

Bottom-Up and Top-Down Approach

APEC mixes it up with a double whammy method. They’ve got everyone chipping in to make sure all members have a say.

Bottom-Up Approach: Imagine a bunch of working bees buzzing around, taking on projects that APEC funds. They’re tackling everything from making trade smoother to cutting down on energy waste and bouncing back after disasters hit. The folks on the ground call the shots, which means each country can target what bugs them the most.
Top-Down Approach: Now, flip the script. APEC’s core committees dish out the big picture strategies. They’re the ones drafting the game plans that sync with APEC’s grand plans. These committees keep the big ideas from the working bees in line with regional economic dreams.

Here’s a quick look at how these approaches split up the workload:

Approach	What They Do
Bottom-Up	Dig into issues with working groups (think trade or energy)
Top-Down	Steer big policy with core committees

Got a thing for lists and numbers? Check out how countries stack up in oil production or find out what’s what in the sub-Saharan region.

APEC’s Decision-Making Process

APEC’s got its own groove when it comes to making decisions. It’s all about everyone agreeing and sticking to stuff without a leash:

Consensus-Based Decisions: Everybody’s gotta agree to paddle in the same direction. It’s about every member feeling heard, keeping things chill and collaborative. No hard rules or legal ropes bind members here, just mutual thumbs-up. This way, the door stays open for chat and tweaks. APEC.
Voluntary Commitments: Deals in APEC land? Totally up to members to say “aye” or “nay.” Unlike the WTO where there’s paperwork involved, APEC lets folks mold commitments to fit their suits.
Core Committees and Working Groups: These four big committees? They’re like the GPS for APEC, keeping things on the right track for growing economies and easing trade troubles. Meanwhile, the worker bees handle the nitty-gritty, pulling off projects that bring policies to life.

For more brain candy on international teamwork, dive into our pieces on stuff like the old USSR roster or peek behind the curtain at military spending lists.

Knowing how APEC rolls shows you how they keep things cooperative and chill, ready to tackle all the gritty trade dramas in the Pacific zone. Check out other economic musings with our lists like who’s in the UAE or catch up with East Africa’s gang.

APEC Initiatives

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is busy cooking up ways to make trade smoother, cut down on energy costs, and help people bounce back from disasters. They’re basically making life easier for folks and businesses across their energetic region.

Trade Facilitation

APEC is like the world’s best roadie for trade, trying to make everything cross borders without any fumbles. The big kahuna is the Bogor Goals, which APEC launched way back in 1994 with an ambitious aim: get trade and investment as free-range as possible by 2020. Here’s a peek at what APEC’s been up to:

Customs Quicksand? Not Here!: Tired of stuff getting stuck at borders? APEC’s sped up customs hustles so your things get where they’re going faster. This means smoother relays for everyone buying or selling.
Playing Nice with Business Laws: Making sure all the red tape in the region is singing from the same hymn sheet helps businesses breathe a little easier.
Trade Facilitation Action Plan: This plan was the equivalent of a financial diet, trimming off 5% of border costs in two stints: 2004–2006 and 2007–2010. Sum total? A whopping USD 58.7 billion saved for Asia-Pacific businesses!

The big picture? Those pesky tariffs have nosedived from 17% in 1989 to just 5.3% in 2021. Also, trade in the region has exploded, surging over nine times between 1989 and 2021.

Trade Facilitation Metric	1989	2021
Average Tariff (%)	17	5.3
Merchandise Trade (USD Trillion)	3.14	28.26

Energy Efficiency and Resource Management

APEC isn’t just about buy and sell; they’re turning a critical eye and tech onto energy use and the way folks manage resources. Here’s what’s on the agenda:

Speedy Energy: Encouraging members to embrace energy-efficient tools to cut waste and corners.
Going Green: Nudging economies to buddy up with renewable sources and cut the fossil fuel leash.
Smart Resource Utilization: Pushing policies that keep resource use savvy and sustainable, sharing the ‘how-to’s among members.

All these efforts are nudging economies toward greener horizons with smaller carbon boot prints.

Disaster Resilience and Security

Being in a bump-prone area, APEC has its sleeves rolled up, getting ready for all sorts of natural calamities. Here’s what’s up:

Disaster Walkthroughs: Setting up systems to prep for the inevitable nature tantrums.
Quick Response Teamwork: Boosting teamwork among members so they can jump into action when things go south.
Security Smarts: Keeping the backbone of trade and infrastructure secure in the face of threats.

APEC’s work helps foster hardy communities, which can take a hit and bounce back, keeping the peace and security in check.

For a juicy deep dive on what APEC’s accomplished and member country contributions, visit APEC Members’ Contributions or peek into APEC’s Decision-Making Process.

Summary Table

Initiative	Key Focus	Benefits
Trade Facilitation	Customs Procedures, Business Climate	Slashed Trade Costs, Booming Trade
Energy Efficiency	Renewable Energy, Sustainability	Tinier Carbon Boot Prints, Long-Lasting Prosperity
Disaster Resilience	Emergency Prep, Response	Tougher Communities, Solid Security

These initiatives are like APEC’s recipe for helping its members cook up growth, sustainability, and some solid peace of mind.

APEC Business Travel Card

The APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) is all about making life easier for business folks hopping around the APEC region. It cuts down the fuss when getting into and out of these economies.

ABTC Program

This nifty card lets business travelers breeze through APEC member economies. Picture yourself skipping those long lines at major airports and heading straight to business (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade – APEC).

Feature	Description
Eligibility	Business travelers from APEC lands
Validity	Five years on a virtual card; eco-friendly, too!
Benefits	No more immigration queue blues and pre-cleared economy access

Keep tabs on who’s given the green light for pre-clearance using the ABTC Pre-clearance Status Tracker.

Benefits for Business Travelers

The ABTC opens doors (literally) for business travelers, making their journeys in the APEC sphere a smoother ride. What’s in it for you? Here’s a sneak peek:

Fast-Track Immigration: Get to your business meetings quicker using special lanes at airports—less time at the counter means more time for you.
Visa-Free Fuss: No need to juggle multiple visas—makes globe-trotting less of a headache.
Network on the Go: More travel equals more mingling. Build those friendly ties and boost your business network in the APEC region.

Need to know which countries play ball with the ABTC? Check out our handy list of APEC countries. To peek at how the rest manage their travel gig, we’ve got links for country phone codes and a sneak into world’s worst in bias.

The ABTC isn’t just about easing travel. It’s a tool for boosting business and economic bonds between APEC countries. To geek out more on how APEC is making business easier, head to our APEC Initiatives page.

U.S. Participation in APEC

USTR Representation and Goals

So, what’s up with the U.S. and APEC? Well, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is at the heart of the U.S. game in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Basically, they’re the folks making sure the U.S. isn’t getting a raw deal in trade. Their main game plan? Push for open markets, fair player rules, and more American jobs. By diving into APEC activities, the USTR is working to iron out trade deals that make life easier for U.S. businesses and consumers (USTR).

What They’re Gunning For:

Opening Up Markets: Tear down those walls keeping U.S. products out.
Fair Play: Everyone should play nice and by the same rules.
Give and Take: Make sure all parties are bringing something to the table in APEC trades.

U.S. Trade Priorities within APEC

The U.S. isn’t just winging it when it comes to APEC. It’s got its sights set on specific goals to carve out a trade scene that’s not just about scoring big for the U.S., but also boosting global economic vibes.

Prime Targets:

Top Tier Market Openings: Bust through trade and investment blocks.
Digital World: Keep the internet economy free-streaming and less tangled up.
Competitiveness in Services: Bolster the strength of U.S. services across the global stage.
Good Vibes in Regulations: Strive for rules that everyone knows and follows smoothly.
Buddy Up on Regulations: Collaborate to cut through red tape in crucial areas.
Slash Transaction Expenses: Trim down costs of doing biz internationally with projects that boost skills and public-private teamwork (USTR).

U.S. Trade Priorities Table:

Priority	What’s The Deal?
Market Openings Ahead	Kick trade and investment barriers out the door
Digital Trade Decoded	Ditch the hurdles in digital commerce
Service Strength Boost	Make U.S. services top competitors
Clear Regulatory Pathways	Keep rules transparent and no-nonsense
Regulatory Buddy System	Get sectors working together smoothly
Trim Transaction Troubles	Lower costs with skill projects and teamwork

Want a full scoop on APEC’s member economies and their global game? Check out our list of APEC countries. And if you’re curious about where the U.S. stands in other global trade gigs, take a gander at our write-ups on the list of U.S. military base countries and the list of countries by oil production.

APEC’s Impact on Trade

Tariff Reductions

Let’s kick things off with the perks of being in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) club: cutting down those pesky tariffs! Since its early days, APEC has been on a mission to slash trade barriers and roll out the welcome mat for free trade. Back in 1989, the average tariffs in the APEC region were sitting at a hefty 17%. Fast forward to 2021, and we’re looking at a much slimmer 5.3%. That’s like going from a double cheeseburger to a garden salad, folks. This tariff diet has supercharged trade and beefed up economic growth among the member countries.

Year	Average Tariff (%)
1989	17.0
2021	5.3

Now, what’s happened with all these tariff trims? Well, total merchandise trade within APEC has ballooned more than nine times from 1989 to 2021. It’s like adding a turbocharger to a regular old engine. And hey, over two-thirds of this trade is just high-fives between APEC members themselves. Clearly, lower tariffs are throwing fuel on the intra-APEC trade fire.

Trade Facilitation Initiatives

APEC isn’t stopping at just cutting tariffs. They’ve got some slick tricks up their sleeves to make trade a whole lot easier and breezier. Enter the Single Window initiative, setting sail in 2007. This nifty system saves time and cuts the red tape in export-import shenanigans by getting all the government agencies to shake hands on one online platform. With this virtual ticket, APEC economies have sped up cross-border trade and slashed costs to boot.

But wait, there’s more! APEC is also shaking up customs procedures to ditch the old-school ways. By giving customs practices a modern makeover, APEC is turning once-bumpy trade roads into super highways. Now, businesses can breeze along without worrying about tripping over regulatory hurdles.

On top of all this, APEC’s loyalty to the Bogor Goals—set in 1994—is a thumbs-up to the free flow of goods, services, and capital. These dreams have been pushing member economies to knock down those trade walls lower and lower.

Thanks to APEC’s all-hands-on-deck trade facilitation strategy, trading in this region is more like a smooth jazz club than a chaotic mosh pit. For more brain food on APEC’s trade moves and their massive ripple effects, check out our article on list of countries by oil production and list of us military base countries.

In a nutshell, APEC’s keen on polishing those trade processes and chopping down barriers, which is a win-win for all the member economies hustling along the Pacific Rim. Their playbook is all about making trade faster, cheaper, and a whole lot friendlier.

APEC Capacity Building

APEC, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, is like the backstage crew making sure the show goes on without a hitch for its member economies. With a smattering of projects and plans, it transforms grand ideas into reality, centering on boosting skills, tech know-how, and keeping economies on their toes.

APEC Projects and Contributions

APEC’s list of projects could fill a grocery list, each key for the sprouting of the Asia-Pacific area. Here’s what they’re getting up to:

Program digital skills makeovers in countryside corners
Show indigenous women how to sell their crafts like hotcakes
Champion energy savings
Keep an eye on forests and fish good for tomorrow

This shopping cart of projects is funded by the member economies’ wallet. Since the late ’90s, they’ve been throwing in around US$3.38 million yearly. These pennies prop up the APEC Secretariat and ensure each project’s heart beats strongly and in tune with APEC’s trade vision.

Project Focus	Examples
Digital Skills Training	Classes teaching computer skills out in the sticks
Women’s Empowerment	Helping indigenous women biz whizzes sell their stuff
Energy Efficiency	Cheering for green energy
Resource Management	Keeping lands and seas fit as a fiddle

If you’re itching to know which countries are up to their elbows in similar work, peep our articles on the list of sub-Saharan countries and list of countries by oil production.

Enhancing Member Economies’ Capacity

APEC isn’t just about talk—they roll up their sleeves and actually boost what their members can do:

Skills Training: From city centers to countryside fields, APEC is all about getting everyone educated and ready for whatever job the economy throws their way.
Technology Transfer: Like sharing the secret family recipe, APEC makes sure member economies trade tech know-how that spices up innovation and streamlines operations.
SME Competitiveness: Helping small and medium-sized businesses not just dream, but achieve by giving them the resources and networks they need to make it big.
Renewable Energy Adoption: Acting as cheerleaders for renewable resources, promoting a greener, cleaner future for the whole Asia-Pacific neighborhood.

This kind of work is the difference between just scraping by and thriving. Want more insight into how various nations sharpen their skills? Our articles on list of countries by IQ and list of countries banning 5G have the lowdown.

Without APEC’s moves, many issues would still sit in the ‘too-hard’ pile. By tuning into skills, tech swaps, business growth, and going green, APEC has got its buddy-economies all set and ready to tackle whatever challenges tomorrow throws their way while sniffing out new chances.