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2004 Meeting of APEC Ministers Responsible for Mining

Antofagasta, Chile | 16 June 2004
Introduction
  1. We, the Ministers Responsible for Mining representing APEC's member economies, convened our First Meeting in Antofagasta, Chile, on June 16 - 17, 2004, under the Chairmanship of H.E. Alfonso Dulanto, Minister of Mining, Chile.
  2. We noted that the Asia Pacific region is the main driver of global economic growth and a significant producer and user of minerals and metals; that many economies derive important economic and social benefits from their development, trade and use; and that the mining and metals industry can effectively be an engine for development.
  3. We confirmed that the development of the mining and metals industry has great importance in promoting employment and economic growth.
  4. We discussed and analyzed two main issues for minerals and metals:
    • Sustainable development.
    • Trade and investment liberalization and facilitation.
  1. We acknowledged that this meeting was a great opportunity to give minerals and metals in APEC a new impetus and to discuss the challenges that face a key productive activity for the development of APEC economies and the world, at the highest level.
  2. We acknowledged that development in an interdependent world supposes complex challenges to the mining and metals industry. The most important is related to how society can meet its demands for the mining and metals industry while complying with social, environmental and economic standards that are sustainable in the long term.
  3. We acknowledged that challenges are arising for producer and consumer economies from the increasing demand for minerals and metals globally, and the development of new technologies and applications which require new material.
  4. We observed that resource endowment and minerals and metals usage varies considerably between APEC member economies which makes relationship among economies more necessary.
  5. We recognized the work conducted by the Expert Group on Minerals and Energy Exploration and Development (GEMEED) in minerals, metals and energy related issues since 1996 through the Energy Working Group (EWG).
  6. We confirmed our commitment to the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of sustainable development and recognized the importance of the mining and metals industry as a fundamental platform for reaching greater development in many APEC economies as well as the contribution of minerals and metals as essential elements of modern economies.
  7. We confirmed our commitment to trade and investment liberalization and facilitation of minerals and metals by recognizing, as a global industry, the need for free flow of trade and investment.
Sustainable Development
  1. We agreed that the sustainable development of the mining and metals industry in the APEC Region enhances wealth creation, environmental outcomes and socially responsible development and result in enhanced value for society. To give substance to this, we recognized:
    • The need to support and promote initiatives that contribute to meet sustainable development in the mining and metals industry.
    • The importance and the need for promoting a cleaner and more efficient production, building on the significant efforts being made by the industry globally to address the environmental, economic and social impacts and benefits of minerals and metals.
    • That best practices can be fostered through collaboration between member economies in such areas as technical and capacity-building support to address small scale mining and legacy issues including rehabilitation of mining sites.
    • The need of promoting a culture of harmony between the mining industry and local populations influenced by mining operations. This concept should be based on a continued dialogue, the respect for local institutions and authorities and a shared understanding of sustainable development aimed to encourage opportunities for human development beyond the mining activities in the long run.
Trade and Investment Liberalization and Facilitation
  1. We acknowledged that trade and investment liberalization and facilitation of minerals and metals improve the economic and social conditions of APEC economies. These actions need to move forward based on the Bogor Declaration and in the premise of discussions at APEC Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Trade.
  2. In order to meet trade and investment liberalization and facilitation of minerals and metals, we:
    • Considered it necessary to identify the tariff and non tariff related issues for minerals and metals in the APEC context.
    • Recognized the importance of detecting future prospects for trade and investment facilitation in the mining and metals industry.
    • Assumed the need to identify, analyze and foresee regulatory trends for minerals and metals.
    • Recognized the desire of APEC economies to expand trade in minerals, metals and mining-related goods, services and technologies.
    • Recognized the importance of working towards facilitating investment in the mining and metals industry and therefore the balance between supply and demand in order to support development of APEC economies.
    • Recognized the importance of the mining and metals industry to APEC economies development goals and the need to understand the supply and demand outlook for minerals and metals, and the ability of this industry to meet this demand.
  1. We welcomed the launch of the APEC Non-Ferrous Metals Dialogue, as proposed by Russia, particularly the outcome of the first Steering Group Meeting of the Dialogue held in Pucón, Chile, on 25 May, 2004 and encouraged APEC members to work towards identifying measures to contribute to implementing decisions and recommendations made at this ministerial meeting, including through capacity building, exchange of information and best practice. We expressed the hope that the Dialogue will contribute to effective cooperation between Government and Business sectors in minerals and metals and related areas.
Action Items
  1. We agreed to work in a collective manner to raise the profile of the mining and metals industry in APEC, as well as to encourage sustainable development and trade and investment liberalization and facilitation in the sector.
  2. We agreed to develop a working plan in order to make future collaboration among APEC economies more precise and effective in order to guide decisions on the minerals and metals sector at the future Meetings of Ministers Responsible for Mining.
  3. We tasked GEMEED to develop and coordinate this working plan which will be reported to Ministers Responsible for Mining and should include the following issues:
    1. Increase, improve and coordinate the flow and exchange of information and experiences in the mining and metals industry, including the restructuring of the GEMEED's Minerals and Energy Information Network, in order to:
      • Demonstrate the contribution of minerals and metals to sustainable development.
      • Recognize the efforts to improve society's appreciations of the mining and metals industry.
    2. Promote cooperation of scientific and technological research and development in minerals and metals, within the framework of APEC-ECOTECH principles, in order to:
      • Move forward towards a stronger interrelationship among APEC member economy governments, researchers and firms.
      • Improve international scientific and technological networks.
      • Improve the workforce capability, including the needs of indigenous people, promoting the exchange of professionals and researchers among APEC economies.
      • Assess and evaluate the current situation of the workforce resources in the mining and metals industry in APEC economies.
    3. Examine mechanisms to work more closely with the industry, including through the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), in order to:
      • Generate synergies among the minerals, metals and related sectors taking into account that productive linkages (clusters) are an important contribution of mining to sustainable development.
      • Develop small and medium enterprises, which will reaffirm the above mentioned and multiply effects due to a higher generation of jobs and to the greater development of economies.
      • Generate a business network which allows cooperation among its members, as well as the analysis of new opportunities for minerals, metals and its related sectors within the APEC region.
    4. Promote minerals and metals issues in other APEC Fora.
    5. Undertake an assessment of the state of trade and investment liberalization and facilitation of minerals and metals in APEC economies.
  1. We agreed to express our concern to the European Union (EU) over possible EU trade restrictions imposed on minerals and metals by the proposed New Chemicals Policy (REACH). The proposed policy is not commensurate with the scale of the problem, particularly with respect to the potential impact on the mining and metals industry, and would impose unnecessary costs.
  2. We decided to communicate to the World Bank our concern about the outcome of the Extractive Industries Review (EIR) report, and our interest in working with the Bank to respond to the report.
  3. We requested the Chairman to report on conclusions reached at the First APEC Ministers Responsible for Mining Meeting, at the next meeting of APEC Economic Leaders in Santiago, Chile, on November 20 - 21, 2004, in order to ensure that the contribution that the mining and metals industry makes to economic development and prosperity in the APEC region is recognized by Leaders.
  4. Finally, we welcomed the opportunity for joint discussion on important issues in the minerals and metals sector. Ministers have committed to meet again when the working plan has been developed.