Confidence Building Measures

1. Objectives
Two major objectives of the initiative are:

• To facilitate the implementation of WTO Agreements and the integration of developing economies into the multilateral trading system.
• To help address the concerns and challenges of APEC developing economies? participation in a new round.

2. General Strategy
Based on the need of individual economies, APEC should have its own initiative of strengthening capacity building activities in developing economies, with the cooperation of developed economies, the WTO and other relevant international organisations. The proposed APEC strategy on capacity building:

• Identifying needs and drafting a strategic plan
• Endorsing an APEC strategic plan to be utilised, as appropriate, in the context of the development strategies of members and related international organisations
• Identifying possible sources of funding for the plan
• Creating a mechanism to implement and follow up the plan
  

3. Six ways to enhance capacity of developing economies

• Expanding knowledge and skills for implementing WTO Agreements
• Developing legal framework for domestic implementation
• Enhancing physical infrastructure for domestic implementation
• Enhancing negotiation skills to participate in international negotiations
• Building capacity to utilise the WTO dispute mechanism
• Contributing to support for accession to the WTO for APEC members

4. Schedule
<After MRT - August 31>

• Ministers would be asked to endorse the APEC strategic plan. This would be taken forward by members in the context of their own development strategies and in conjunction with international organisations in the APEC region. Ministers would be asked to give priority to allocating the APEC TILF fund to the possible pilot projects.
• Ministers would agree that members would adjust priorities, as appropriate, in their development programs in the light of the APEC strategic plan.
• Ministers would invite relevant international development organisations to provide possible support to the program.
  

1. Objectives

• To promote a common understanding of issues related to possible future multilateral rules on investment and competition.
• To share the experiences of investment and competition policies in the APEC region.

2. Agenda

• Review investment and competition policies in the APEC region and analyse their relationship with international trade and economic development.
• Survey business difficulties and other issues regarding investment and competition, exploring the scope for appropriate solutions.
• Examine the merits and demerits of developing multilateral rules on the interface between trade and investment and competition.
• Examine the need for multilateral rules and the effects of rule making for economic development.

3. Schedule
The seminars will be held in Latin America and Asia.

1. Objectives
To encourage more APEC economies to participate in the initiative of providing Least Developed Economies with enhanced market access.
2. Participating APEC economies
The following 7 APEC economies announced their participation in this initiative in early May:
[Canada; Chile; Hong Kong, China; Korea; New Zealand; Japan and United States]