Asia-Pacific Business Stress Vital Importance of WTO, Climate Change Mitigation and Leveraging of the Digital Economy
Senior business representatives from around the Asia-Pacific voiced strong support this week in the Chinese city of Hangzhou for the World Trade Organization (WTO) and a rules-based multilateral trading system. The group also stressed the importance of incorporating policies to mitigate and prevent negative climate change impacts, most notably on the most vulnerable communities. In addition, they underscored the enormous potential benefits from the digital economy and innovation for businesses, especially for women and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the region.
“We are in the business of helping leverage opportunities and resolve problems from a business perspective. This will allow people and communities more widely to share the benefits from free trade,” said APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Chair Richard von Appen. “I was delighted to see the determination among my ABAC colleagues to help navigate a path through some formidable challenges such as trade tensions and environmental sustainability.”
“We stand ready to play our part – whether around keeping markets open, coming up with innovative ideas on climate change, or mapping out an enabling environment for revolutionary new business models.”
Preparing for deeper engagement with APEC Economic Leaders
Von Appen pointed out that as trade has expanded in recent decades a billion people have been lifted out of poverty, and inequality among economies has fallen.
“GDP and trade growth, based on free and fair trade and open markets, used to be at the core of business activity. But nowadays it is not only about that – but also about human development, human-centered policies and overall inclusiveness. The business community is committed to further addressing these issues going forward,” he added.
In Hangzhou, ABAC focused on finalizing a letter and report for APEC Economic Leaders and beginning to prepare for the annual Dialogue, which takes place in November in Santiago.
WTO, climate change and digitalization are the priorities
“Most pressing is the parlous state of the global trading system. We will be delivering a strong message to Leaders. It is now urgent that we resolve the crisis in the WTO’s dispute settlement system. Specifically, the impasse involving the appointment of members of the Appellate Body requires immediate resolution. We also need to reform the rules to make sure that the WTO remains relevant and fit for purpose – including to ensure that modern business models can flourish, and that women and MSMEs can access the opportunities and benefits of the global economy.
“This is crucial for every economy, large or small, to promote the benefits of free trade not only for economic reasons, but also to keep a permanent dialogue on common challenges and opportunities,” von Appen said. “We should not take the WTO for granted; in the current global environment it would be almost impossible to create a new organization like that if the current one was to disappear, which would negatively impact developing economies.”
“The vital context for that, of course, is continuing with the critical work of deepening regional economic integration,” von Appen said. “ABAC remains strongly committed to an eventual Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific,” he added.
“Sustainability, most crucially climate change, is also one of our priorities. This is the vital challenge of our age, and we think business can play a real role in helping to develop innovative ideas on climate change and supporting the transition to a sustainable, resilient and low-carbon economy not only for current, but more importantly for future generations.”
Von Appen also pointed out ABAC’s priority of enabling the digital economy. “It is fitting that we are meeting in Hangzhou, rightly known as a showcase for digital innovation.
“We will be reminding Leaders that the dynamic and inclusive APEC region to which we aspire demands a future-ready workforce, robust digital infrastructure across all economies, and an open, market-oriented regulatory environment, above all to channel talented people from all around the region to provide innovative products and services,” said von Appen.
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For further information please contact:
Loreto Leyton, ABAC Executive Director 2019, Tel: +562 334 3200
Email: [email protected]
Antonio Basilio, Director, ABAC Secretariat, Tel: (63 2) 845 4564, Email: [email protected]