View source for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

{{Short description|Economic forum of Asia–Pacific nations}}
{{Redirect-distinguish|APEC|AIPAC|Asia–Pacific{{!}}APAC|OPEC}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2019}}

{{Infobox geopolitical organisation
| name                = '''Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation'''
| linking_name        = Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
| symbol_type         = {{nbsp}}<!-- Because we truly don't need the word "Logo" under the... Logo. [[WP:THANKYOUCAPTIONOBVIOUS]] – feel free to "fix" in a better way... -->
| image_symbol        = [[File:APEC logo vertical.svg|frameless|upright=1.05]] <!-- logo size - if only all these infoboxes made 'upright' available to allow scaling-->
| image_map           = [[File:Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation nations.svg|300px]]
| map_caption         = Member economies of APEC
| org_type            = Economic meeting
| membership_type     = Membership
| membership          = 
 {{collapsible list
  | titlestyle = background: transparent; text-align: left; font-weight: normal;
  | title = 21 economies
  | {{Flag|Australia}}
  | {{Flag|Brunei}}
  | {{Flag|Canada}}
  | {{Flag|Chile}}
  | {{Flag|China}}
  | {{Flag|Hong Kong}}
  | {{Flag|Indonesia}}
  | {{Flag|Japan}}
  | {{Flag|Malaysia}}
  | {{Flag|Mexico}}
  | {{Flag|New Zealand}}
  | {{Flag|Papua New Guinea}}
  | {{Flag|Peru}}
  | {{Flag|Philippines}}
  | {{Flag|Russia}}
  | {{Flag|Singapore}}
  | {{Flag|South Korea}}
  | {{Flag|Taiwan}}{{efn|name=ChinTaipei|Due to the complexities of [[cross-Strait relations|the relations]] between it and Communist China (officially the People's Republic of China), the Republic of China (ROC or "[[Taiwan]]"; retroactively known as Nationalist China) is not represented under its official various names such as the "Republic of China", "Nationalist China" or "Taiwan". Instead, it participates in APEC under the name "[[Chinese Taipei]]". The [[President of the Republic of China]] cannot attend the annual APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in person. Instead, it is generally represented by a ministerial-level official responsible for economic affairs or someone designated by the president. See [[List of Chinese Taipei Representatives to APEC]].}}
  | {{Flag|Thailand}}
  | {{Flag|United States}}
  | {{Flag|Vietnam}}
 }}
| admin_center_type   = Headquarters
| admin_center        = {{flag|Singapore}}
| leader_title1       = Chairperson
| leader_name1        = {{flagdeco|South Korea}} [[President of South Korea|President]] [[Lee Jae Myung]]
| leader_title2       = Executive Director
| leader_name2        =  Eduardo Pedrosa
| established         = {{start date and age|1989}}
| official_website    = {{URL|https://www.apec.org/}}
| demonym             = 
| area_km2            = 
| area_rank           = 
| GDP_PPP             = 
| GDP_PPP_year        = 
| HDI                 = 
| HDI_year            = 
| today               = 
}}

'''Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation''' ('''APEC''' {{IPAc-en|'|eɪ|p|ɛ|k}} {{respell|AY|pek}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ABWwQg-CwY| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/-ABWwQg-CwY | archive-date=11 December 2021 | url-status=live|title=What is APEC?| date=November 2018 |access-date=26 November 2020 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>) is an inter-governmental forum for 21 member [[economy |economies]] in the [[Pacific Rim]] that promotes [[free trade]] throughout the [[Asia-Pacific]] region.<ref name="apec.org">{{Cite web|title=Member Economies|url=https://www.apec.org/about-us/about-apec/member-economies |access-date=16 January 2023|website=APEC |archive-date=28 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928160451/http://apec.org/About-Us/About-APEC/Member-Economies |url-status=live}}</ref> Following the success of [[Association of Southeast Asian Nations|ASEAN]]'s series of post-ministerial conferences launched in the mid-1980s,<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.pecc.org/resources/doc_view/601-back-to-canberra-founding-apec |first1=Andrew |last1=Elek |title=  Back to Canberra: Founding APEC|website= PECC |date= 30 September 2005|access-date= 12 November 2017|quote= ASEAN's series of post-ministerial consultations,launched in the mid-1980s, had demonstrated the feasibility and value of regular consultations among ministerial-level representatives of both developed and developing economies. |archive-date= 18 September 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200918064533/https://www.pecc.org/resources/doc_view/601-back-to-canberra-founding-apec|url-status= live}}</ref> APEC started in 1989,<ref name= "History">{{cite web |title= History |url= https://www.apec.org/About-Us/About-APEC/History |website= APEC  |quote= The idea of APEC was firstly publicly broached by former prime minister of Australia Bob Hawke during a speech in Seoul, Korea, on 31 January 1989. Ten months later, 12 Asia-Pacific economies met in Canberra to establish APEC. |access-date= 18 September 2018 |archive-date= 4 March 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190304034820/http://apec.org/About-Us/About-APEC/History |url-status= live }}</ref> in response to the growing interdependence of [[Asia-Pacific]] economies and the advent of regional [[trade bloc]]s in other parts of the world; it aimed to establish new markets for agricultural products and raw materials beyond Europe.<ref name="pecc.org">{{Cite web|url= https://www.pecc.org/resources/regional-cooperation/601-back-to-canberra-founding-apec/file |first1=Andrew |last1=Elek |website=Pacific Economic Cooperation Council |title=Back to Canberra: Founding APEC|access-date=18 September 2018|archive-date=29 March 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160329012108/https://www.pecc.org/resources/regional-cooperation/601-back-to-canberra-founding-apec/file |url-status=live}}</ref> Headquartered in [[Singapore]],<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ncapec.org/docs/what_is_apec.pdf |website=National Center for APEC | quote = The APEC Secretariat is based in Singapore. The Secretariat is staffed by 20 diplomats seconded from APEC member economies and by 20 local staff. |title= What is APEC and what can it do for business?|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726041714/http://www.ncapec.org/docs/what_is_apec.pdf|archive-date=26 July 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> APEC is recognized as one of the highest-level multilateral blocs and oldest forums in the Asia-Pacific / Americas region,<ref>{{cite web |last1= Chu |first1= Shulong |title= The East Asia Summit: Looking for an Identity |url= https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/the-east-asia-summit-looking-for-an-identity/ |website= Brookings |date= 1 February 2017 |quote= APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) is the oldest such forum and is generally recognized as the highest-level multilateral process in Asia-Pacific. |access-date= 18 September 2018 |archive-date= 25 September 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200925205910/https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/the-east-asia-summit-looking-for-an-identity/ |url-status= live }}</ref> and exerts significant global influence.<ref>{{cite web |title= Achievements and Benefits |url= https://www.apec.org/About-Us/About-APEC/Achievements-and-Benefits |website= apec.org |access-date= 18 September 2018 |archive-date= 30 October 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201030230425/https://www.apec.org/About-Us/About-APEC/Achievements-and-Benefits |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= How Could The 2016 APEC Forum Affect The World Economy? |website =FXCM |url= https://www.fxcm.com/insights/2016-apec-forum-affect-world-economy/ |date= 9 January 2017 |access-date=  |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180916201924/https://www.fxcm.com/insights/2016-apec-forum-affect-world-economy/ |archive-date= 16 September 2018 |url-status= live|quote = The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum represents a potentially large-scale trade area that, when functioning in a concerted manner, could in the future work to shift the axis of global manufacturing and trade away from the North Atlantic–European region toward the Pacific. [...] But the future of the bloc, which represents more than 50% of the world's GDP, may be in suspense.}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1= Parreñas |first1= Julius Caesar |title= ASEAN and Asia-Pacific economic cooperation |journal= The Pacific Review |volume= 11 |issue= 2 |pages= 233–248 |doi= 10.1080/09512749808719255 |date= January 1998}}</ref><ref>{{cite report |url= https://www.anzam.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf-manager/2336_BAMBER_GREG_AMI-13.PDF | title = What Context does the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC)Provide for Employment Relations? | quote = APEC represents the most dynamic economic region in the world, having generated nearly 70 per cent of global economic growth in its first 10 years [...]. | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180820074615/https://www.anzam.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf-manager/2336_BAMBER_GREG_AMI-13.PDF | archive-date = 20 August 2018 | url-status = live }}</ref>

The [[heads of government]] of all APEC members except [[Taiwan]] (which is represented by a [[List of Chinese Taipei Representatives to APEC|ministerial-level official]] as ''economic leader'')<ref>[http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2013/08/27/387427/Conditions-not.htm Conditions not right for APEC attendance: Ma] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117201433/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2013/08/27/387427/Conditions-not.htm |date=17 November 2020 }}. The China Post (27 August 2013). Retrieved 12 April 2014.</ref> attend an annual APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. The location of the meeting rotates annually among the member economies, and a famous tradition, followed for most (but not all) summits, involves the attending leaders dressing in a [[national costume]] of the host country. APEC has three official observers: the [[Association of Southeast Asian Nations]] Secretariat, the [[Pacific Economic Cooperation Council]] and the [[Pacific Islands Forum]] Secretariat.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.apec.org/About-Us/How-APEC-Operates/APEC-Observers|title= Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation -|website= apec.org|access-date= 12 November 2017|archive-date= 5 December 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201205101331/https://www.apec.org/About-Us/How-APEC-Operates/APEC-Observers|url-status= live}}</ref> APEC's Host Economy of the Year is considered to be invited in the first place for geographical representation to attend [[G20]] meetings following G20 guidelines.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.g20foundation.org/g20/invitees-and-international-organizations|title=Invitees and International Organizations &#124; G20 Foundation|access-date=1 August 2020|archive-date=21 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221231521/https://www.g20foundation.org/g20/invitees-and-international-organizations|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url= http://vietnamembassy-usa.org/news/2017/02/deputy-pm-meets-us-state-secretary-g20-meeting-sidelines
|title= Deputy PM meets US State Secretary on G20 meeting sidelines – Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the United States
|website= vietnamembassy-usa.org
|access-date= 12 November 2017
|archive-date= 3 November 2017
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171103144949/http://vietnamembassy-usa.org/news/2017/02/deputy-pm-meets-us-state-secretary-g20-meeting-sidelines
|url-status= live
}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:APEC ABC.ogv|thumb|right|[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] news report of the first APEC meeting in Canberra, November 1989, featuring delegates watching the [[Melbourne Cup]]]]
The initial inspiration for APEC came when the [[Association of Southeast Asian Nations]] (ASEAN)'s series of post-ministerial conferences, launched in the mid-1980s, had demonstrated the feasibility and value of regular conferences among ministerial-level representatives of both developed and developing economies. By 1986, the post-ministerial conferences had expanded to embrace 12 members (the then six members of ASEAN and its six dialogue partners). The developments led [[Prime Minister of Australia |Australian Prime Minister]] [[Bob Hawke]] to believe in the necessity of region-wide co-operation on economic matters. In January 1989, Bob Hawke called for more effective economic co-operation across the Pacific Rim region. This led to the first meeting of APEC in the Australian capital of [[Canberra]] in November, chaired by [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Australia) | Australian Foreign Affairs Minister]] [[Gareth Evans (politician) |Gareth Evans]]. Attended by ministers from twelve countries, the meeting concluded with commitments to hold future annual meetings in [[Singapore]] and [[South Korea]]. Ten months later, representatives of 12 Asia-Pacific economies met in Canberra, Australia, to establish APEC. The APEC Secretariat, based in Singapore, was established to co-ordinate the activities of the organisation.<ref name="History"/><ref name="pecc.org"/>
The organization was initially an Australian initiative intended to secure greater Japanese engagement in the region, but it quickly evolved into a forum for broader economic cooperation. Its early years were characterized by a dynamic tension between members favoring a structured trade agreement and those, like the United States, who preferred a looser, more consultative approach.<ref name=":fa-initial-apec">{{cite journal |last1=Drysdale |first1=Peter |date=December 1994 |title=APEC and the Political Economy of the Asia-Pacific |url=https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/asia/1994-11-01/apec-and-political-economy-asia-pacific |journal=[[Foreign Affairs]] |volume=73 |issue=6 |pages=20-25 |access-date=24 October 2025}}</ref>

During the 1994 meeting in [[Bogor]], Indonesia, APEC leaders adopted the '''Bogor Goals''', which aimed for free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific by 2010 for industrialised economies and by 2020 for developing economies. During the November 1995 Ministerial Meeting in Osaka, Japan, a business advisory body named the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) composed of three business executives from each member-country was agreed to be established in 1996.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1995 APEC Ministerial Meeting |url=https://www.apec.org/meeting-papers/annual-ministerial-meetings/1995/1995_amm |access-date=2023-07-09 |website=APEC |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1995 APEC Ministerial Meeting {{!}} 1995 APEC Ministerial Meeting |url=https://www.apec.org/meeting-papers/annual-ministerial-meetings/1995/1995_amm/att_decl |access-date=2023-07-09 |website=APEC |language=en}}</ref>

In April 2001, APEC, in collaboration with five other international organisations ([[Eurostat]], [[International Energy Agency]], {{ill|Organización Latinoamericana de Energía|lt=Organización Latinoamericana de Energía (OLADE)|es|Organización Latinoamericana de Energía}}, [[Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries]] and the [[ United Nations Statistics Division]]) launched the Joint Oil Data Exercise, which in 2005 became the [[Joint Organisations Data Initiative]] (JODI).

===Meeting locations===
The location of the annual meeting rotates among the members.{{cn|date=August 2025}}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+APEC ministers' meeting
|-
! Year !! # !! Dates !! Country !! City !! Host Leader
|- b
| 1989 || '''[[APEC Australia 1989|1st]]'''|| 6–7 November || {{Flag|Australia}} || [[Canberra]] || Prime Minister [[Bob Hawke]]
|-
| 1990 || '''[[APEC Singapore 1990|2nd]]'''|| 29–31 July || {{Flag|Singapore}} || Singapore || Prime Minister [[Lee Kuan Yew]]
|-
| 1991 || '''[[APEC South Korea 1991|3rd]]'''|| 12–14 November || {{flag|South Korea}} || [[Seoul]] || President [[Roh Tae-woo]]
|-
| 1992 || '''[[APEC Thailand 1992|4th]]'''|| 10–11 September || {{flag|Thailand}} || [[Bangkok]] || Prime Minister [[Anand Panyarachun]]
|}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+APEC economic leaders' meeting
|-
! Year !! # !! Dates !! Country !! City !! Host Leader
|-
| 1993 || '''[[APEC United States 1993|1st]]'''|| 19–20 November || {{flag|United States}} || [[Blake Island]] || President [[Bill Clinton]]
|-
| 1994 || '''[[APEC Indonesia 1994|2nd]]'''|| 15–16 November || {{flag|Indonesia}} || [[Bogor]] || President [[Suharto]]
|-
| 1995 || '''[[APEC Japan 1995|3rd]]'''|| 18–19 November || {{flag|Japan|1947}} || [[Osaka]] || Prime Minister [[Tomiichi Murayama]]
|-
| 1996 || '''[[APEC Philippines 1996|4th]]'''|| 24–25 November || {{flag|Philippines|1986}} || [[Subic Bay Freeport Zone|Subic]] || President [[Fidel Ramos]]
|-
| 1997 || '''[[APEC Canada 1997|5th]]'''|| 24–25 November || {{flag|Canada}} || [[Vancouver]] || Prime Minister [[Jean Chrétien]]
|-
| 1998 || '''[[APEC Malaysia 1998|6th]]'''|| 17–18 November || {{Flag|Malaysia}} || [[Kuala Lumpur]] || Prime Minister [[Mahathir Mohamad]]
|-
| 1999 || '''[[APEC New Zealand 1999|7th]]'''|| 12–13 September || {{flag|New Zealand}} || [[Auckland]] || Prime Minister [[Jenny Shipley]]
|-
| 2000 || '''[[APEC Brunei Darussalam 2000|8th]]'''|| 15–16 November || {{flag|Brunei}} || [[Bandar Seri Begawan]] || Sultan [[Hassanal Bolkiah]]
|-
| 2001 || '''[[APEC China 2001|9th]]'''|| 20–21 October || {{flag|China}} || [[Shanghai]] || General Secretary and President [[Jiang Zemin]]{{efn|name=China}}
|-
| 2002 || '''[[APEC Mexico 2002|10th]]'''|| 26–27 October || {{flag|Mexico}} || [[Los Cabos]] || President [[Vicente Fox]]
|-
| 2003 || '''[[APEC Thailand 2003|11th]]'''|| 20–21 October || {{flag|Thailand}} || [[Bangkok]] || Prime Minister [[Thaksin Shinawatra]]
|-
| 2004 || '''[[APEC Chile 2004|12th]]'''|| 20–21 November || {{flag|Chile}} || [[Santiago]] || President [[Ricardo Lagos]]
|-
| 2005 || '''[[APEC South Korea 2005|13th]]'''|| 18–19 November || {{flag|South Korea}} || [[Busan]] || President [[Roh Moo-hyun]]
|-
| 2006 || '''[[APEC Vietnam 2006|14th]]'''|| 18–19 November || {{flag|Vietnam}} || [[Hanoi]] || President [[Nguyễn Minh Triết]]{{efn|name=vt}}
|-
| 2007 || '''[[APEC Australia 2007|15th]]'''|| 8–9 September || {{flag|Australia}} || [[Sydney]] || Prime Minister [[John Howard]]
|-
| 2008 || '''[[APEC Peru 2008|16th]]'''|| 22–23 November || {{flag|Peru}} || [[Lima]] || President [[Alan Garcia Perez]]
|-
| 2009 || '''[[APEC Singapore 2009|17th]]'''|| 14–15 November || {{flag|Singapore}} || Singapore || Prime Minister [[Lee Hsien Loong]]
|-
| 2010 || '''[[APEC Japan 2010|18th]]'''|| 13–14 November || {{flag|Japan}}|| [[Yokohama]] || Prime Minister [[Naoto Kan]]
|-
| 2011 || '''[[APEC United States 2011|19th]]'''|| 12–13 November || {{flag|United States}} || [[Honolulu]] || President [[Barack Obama]]
|-
| 2012 || '''[[APEC Russia 2012|20th]]'''|| 9–10 September || {{flag|Russia}} || [[Vladivostok]] || President [[Vladimir Putin]]
|-
| 2013 || '''[[APEC Indonesia 2013|21st]]'''|| 5–7 October || {{flag|Indonesia}} || [[Bali]] || President [[Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono]]
|-
| 2014 || '''[[APEC China 2014|22nd]]'''|| 10–11 November || {{flag|China}} || [[Beijing]] || General Secretary and President [[Xi Jinping]]{{efn|name=China}}
|-
| 2015 || '''[[APEC Philippines 2015|23rd]]'''|| 18–19 November || {{flag|Philippines}} || [[Pasay]] || President [[Benigno Aquino III]]
|-
| 2016 || '''[[APEC Peru 2016|24th]]'''|| 19–20 November || {{flag|Peru}} || [[Lima]] || President [[Pedro Pablo Kuczynski]]
|-
| 2017 || '''[[APEC Vietnam 2017|25th]]'''|| 10–11 November || {{flag|Vietnam}} || [[Da Nang]] ||President [[Trần Đại Quang]]{{efn|name=vt}}
|-
| 2018 || '''[[APEC Papua New Guinea 2018|26th]]'''|| 17–18 November || {{flag|Papua New Guinea}} || [[Port Moresby]] ||Prime Minister [[Peter O'Neill]]
|-
| 2019 || <s>'''[[APEC Chile 2019|27th]]'''</s> || 16–17 November <br /> ''(cancelled)''
|{{flag|Chile}} ||[[Santiago]]|| President [[Sebastián Piñera]]
|-
| 2020 || '''[[APEC Malaysia 2020|28th]]''' || 20 November || {{flag|Malaysia}} || [[Kuala Lumpur]] (hosted virtually)<ref>{{cite news |title= Apec leaders' summit to be virtual |url= https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/1980031/apec-leaders-summit-to-be-virtual |access-date= 5 April 2021 |agency= Kyodo News |newspaper= Bangkok Post |date= 4 September 2020 }}</ref> || Prime Minister [[Muhyiddin Yassin]]
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2021 || [[APEC New Zealand 2021|–]] || 16 July || rowspan="2" | {{flag|New Zealand}} || rowspan="2" | [[Auckland]] (hosted virtually) || rowspan="2" | Prime Minister [[Jacinda Ardern]]
|-
| '''[[APEC New Zealand 2021|29th]]''' || 12 November<ref>{{cite web |title= New Zealand to host virtual APEC in 2021 |url= https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-zealand-host-virtual-apec-2021 |date= 30 June 2020  |website= The Beehive |language= en |access-date= 5 November 2020 |archive-date= 27 November 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201127231341/https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-zealand-host-virtual-apec-2021 |url-status= live }}</ref>
|-
| 2022 || '''[[APEC Thailand 2022|30th]]''' || 18–19 November || {{flag|Thailand}} || [[Bangkok]] ||Prime Minister [[Prayut Chan-o-cha]]<ref name="statement">{{Cite web |title=Statement by Prime Minister of Thailand on APEC |url=https://www.apec.org/press/news-releases/2022/statement-by-prime-minister-of-thailand-on-apec-hosting-year |date=10 February 2022 |access-date=10 February 2022 |website=APEC |language=en |archive-date=17 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117033143/https://www.apec.org/press/news-releases/2022/statement-by-prime-minister-of-thailand-on-apec-hosting-year |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| 2023 || '''[[APEC United States 2023|31st]]''' || 15–17 November<ref name="calendar">{{Cite web |title=Calendar – Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation 2023 |url=https://www.state.gov/events-asia-pacific-economic-cooperation/ |access-date=2023-07-14 |website=U.S. Department of State }}</ref>|| {{flag|United States}} || [[San Francisco]] ||President [[Joe Biden]]<ref>{{cite web |title= Remarks by Vice President Harris on the Indo-Pacific Region |date= 24 August 2021 |url= https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/08/24/remarks-by-vice-president-harris-on-the-indo-pacific-region/ |website=The White House  |access-date= 25 August 2021 |language= en |archive-date= 25 August 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210825000905/https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/08/24/remarks-by-vice-president-harris-on-the-indo-pacific-region/ |url-status= live }}</ref>
|-
| 2024 || '''[[APEC Peru 2024|32nd]]''' || 15–16 November || {{flag|Peru}}|| [[Lima]]|| President [[Dina Boluarte]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://andina.pe/agencia/noticia-presidenta-trujillo-arequipa-cusco-ucayali-y-lima-seran-sedes-apec-2024-955177.aspx|title=Presidenta: Trujillo, Arequipa, Cusco, Ucayali y Lima serán sedes de APEC 2024|first=Empresa Peruana de Servicios Editoriales S. A. EDITORA|last=PERÚ|date=13 September 2023|website=andina.pe}}</ref>
|-
| 2025 || '''[[APEC South Korea 2025|33rd]]''' || 31 October – 1 November<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gyeongju.go.kr/open_content/ko/page.do?mnu_uid=3757|title=경주시, 경주시홈페이지|first=경주시|last=경주시홈페이지|website=www.gyeongju.go.kr}}</ref> || {{flag|South Korea}} || [[Gyeongju]] || President [[Lee Jae Myung]]
|-
| 2026 || ''[[APEC China 2026|34th]]'' || ''TBA'' || {{flag|China}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://english.news.cn/20241117/e00914cecba64210b6886fb4064e8f72/c.html|title=Xinhua News &#124; China to host APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in 2026|website=english.news.cn}}</ref> || [[Shenzhen]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Xi says China's city of Shenzhen to host APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in 2026 |url=https://english.news.cn/20251101/e0e9fbf27f1945c49d9b29ec0e11b723/c.html |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=[[Xinhua News Agency]] |language=en}}</ref>|| General Secretary and President [[Xi Jinping]]{{efn|name=China}}
|-
| 2027 || ''35th'' || ''TBA'' || {{flag|Vietnam}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-18 |title=2023 APEC Leaders' Golden Gate Declaration |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/11/17/2023-apec-leaders-golden-gate-declaration/ |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=[[The White House]] |at=Statement 16. |language=en-US}}</ref> || [[Phú Quốc]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thanh Van |date=2025-01-16 |title=Phu Quoc selected as host city for APEC Summit 2027 |url=https://vir.com.vn/phu-quoc-selected-as-host-city-for-apec-summit-2027-121423.html |access-date=2025-01-19 |website=Vietnam Investment Review - VIR |language=en}}</ref> || ''[[2026 Vietnamese legislative election|TBA]]''{{efn|name=vt}}
|-
| 2028 || ''36th'' || ''TBA'' || {{flag|Mexico}} || ''TBA'' || President [[Claudia Sheinbaum]]
|-
| 2029 || ''37th'' || ''TBA'' || ''TBA'' || ''TBA'' || ''TBA''
|-
| 2030 || ''38th'' || ''TBA'' || {{flag|Singapore}}<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/singapore-apec-summit-2030-lawrence-wong-4752481 | title=Singapore set to host APEC Summit in 2030 }}</ref> || Singapore || ''TBA''
|-
| 2031 || ''39th'' || ''TBA'' || {{flag|Japan}} || ''TBA'' || ''TBA''
|-
| 2032 || ''40th'' || ''TBA'' || {{flag|Chile}} || ''TBA'' || ''TBA''
|-
| 2033 || ''41st'' || ''TBA'' || {{flag|Papua New Guinea}} || ''TBA'' || ''TBA''
|-
| 2034 || ''42nd'' || ''TBA'' || {{flag|Peru}} || ''TBA'' || ''TBA''
|-
|}

==Member economies==
[[File:APEC2006 Roh Bush Abe.jpg|thumb|right|Former South Korean President [[Roh Moo-hyun]] with Former Japanese Prime Minister [[Shinzō Abe]] and Former U.S. President [[George W. Bush]] at [[APEC]] 2006 in [[Hanoi]], Vietnam]]
Currently, APEC has 21 members. The criterion for membership, however, is that each member must be an independent economic entity, rather than a sovereign state. As a result, APEC uses the term ''member economies'' rather than ''member countries'' to refer to its members. One result of this criterion is that membership of the forum includes Taiwan (officially the Republic of China, participating under the name "Chinese Taipei") alongside People's Republic of China (see [[Cross-Strait relations]]), as well as Hong Kong, which entered APEC as a British colony but it is now a [[Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China]]. APEC also includes three official observers: [[ASEAN]], the [[Pacific Islands Forum]] and the [[Pacific Economic Cooperation Council]].<ref name="apec.org"/>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Member economy
! Name as used in APEC
! Date of accession
! GDP (Nominal) in 2024<br />(Millions of [[United States dollar|US$]])<ref name="IMF_GDP">{{cite web |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2024/October/weo-report?c=111,&s=NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,&sy=2022&ey=2027&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 |title=Report for Selected Countries and Subjects: October 2024|publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]]|website=imf.org}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Australia}}
| Australia
| November 1989
|align="right"|1,802,006
|-
| {{flag|Brunei}}
| Brunei Darussalam
| November 1989
|align="right"|15,510
|-
| {{flag|Canada}}
| Canada
| November 1989
|align="right"|2,214,796
|-
| {{flag|Chile}}
| Chile
| November 1994
|align="right"|328,720
|-
| {{flag|China}}
| People's Republic of China
| November 1991
|align="right"|18,273,357
|-
| {{flag|Hong Kong}}
| Hong Kong, China{{efn|Hong Kong joined APEC in 1991 during [[Colonial Hong Kong|British administration]] with the name "Hong Kong." In 1997, Hong Kong became a [[Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China]] and took the name "Hong Kong, China."}}
| November 1991
|align="right"|401,751
|-
| {{flag|Indonesia}}
| Indonesia
| November 1989
|align="right"|1,402,590
|-
| {{flag|Japan}}
| Japan
| November 1989
|align="right"|4,070,094
|-
| {{flag|Malaysia}}
| Malaysia
| November 1989
|align="right"|439,748
|-
| {{flag|Mexico}}
| Mexico
| November 1993
|align="right"|1,848,125
|-
| {{flag|New Zealand}}
| New Zealand
| November 1989
|align="right"|252,236
|-
| {{flag|Papua New Guinea}}
| Papua New Guinea
| November 1993
|align="right"|31,716
|-
| {{flag|Peru}}
| Peru
| November 1998
|align="right"|283,309
|-
| {{flag|Philippines}}
| The Philippines
| November 1989
|align="right"|470,062
|-
| {{flag|Russia}}
| Russia
| November 1998
|align="right"|2,184,316
|-
| {{flag|Singapore}}
| Singapore
| November 1989
|align="right"|530,708
|-
| {{flag|South Korea}}
| Republic of Korea
| November 1989
|align="right"|1,869,916
|-
| {{flag|Taiwan}}
| Chinese Taipei{{efn|name=ChinTaipei|Due to the complexities of [[cross-Strait relations|the relations]] between it and Communist China (officially the People's Republic of China), the Republic of China (ROC or "[[Taiwan]]"; retroactively known as Nationalist China) is not represented under its official various names such as the "Republic of China", "Nationalist China" or "Taiwan". Instead, it participates in APEC under the name "[[Chinese Taipei]]". The [[President of the Republic of China]] cannot attend the annual APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in person. Instead, it is generally represented by a ministerial-level official responsible for economic affairs or someone designated by the president. See [[List of Chinese Taipei Representatives to APEC]].}}
| November 1991
|align="right"|775,017
|-
| {{flag|Thailand}}
| Thailand
| November 1989
|align="right"|528,919
|-
| {{flag|United States}}
| The United States
| November 1989
|align="right"|29,167,779
|-
| {{flag|Vietnam}}
| Viet Nam
| November 1998
|align="right"|468,485
|-
|}
===Leaders===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"
|-
!Member
!Leader position
!Leader (mostly [[Head of government]])
!Finance portfolio
!Portfolio Minister
|-
| {{Flag|Australia}}
| [[Prime Minister of Australia|Prime Minister]]
| [[Anthony Albanese]]
| [[Treasurer of Australia|Treasurer]]
| [[Jim Chalmers]]
|-
| {{Flag|Brunei}}
| [[List of Sultans of Brunei|Sultan]]<br />[[Prime Minister of Brunei|Prime Minister]]
| [[Hassanal Bolkiah]]
| [[Ministry of Finance and Economy (Brunei)#First Minister|Minister of Finance and Economy]]<br />[[Ministry of Finance and Economy (Brunei)#Second Minister|Second Minister of Finance and Economy]]
| [[Hassanal Bolkiah]]<br />[[Amin Liew Abdullah]]
|-
| {{Flag|Canada}}
| [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]]
| [[Mark Carney]]
| [[Minister of Finance (Canada)|Minister of Finance]]
| [[François-Philippe Champagne]]
|-
| {{Flag|Chile}}
| [[President of Chile|President]]
| [[Gabriel Boric]]
| [[Ministry of Finance (Chile)|Minister of Finance]]
| [[Mario Marcel]]
|-
| {{Flag|China}}
| [[General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party|CCP General Secretary]]<br />[[President of China|President]]{{efn|name=China|The ''de jure'' [[head of government]] of China is the [[Premier of China|Premier]], whose current holder is [[Li Qiang]]. The [[President of China]] is legally a [[Figurehead|ceremonial office]], but the [[General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party]] (''de facto'' [[Paramount leader|leader]] in [[One-party state|one-party]] [[communist state]]) has always held this office since 1993 except for the months of [[Succession of power in the People's Republic of China|transition]], and the current [[General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party|general secretary]] is [[Xi Jinping]].}}
| [[Xi Jinping]]
| [[Minister of Finance (China)|Minister of Finance]]
| [[Lan Fo'an]]
|-
| {{Flag|Hong Kong}}
| [[Chief Executive of Hong Kong|Chief Executive]]
| [[John Lee (government official)|John Lee]]
| [[Financial Secretary (Hong Kong)|Financial Secretary]]
| [[Paul Chan Mo-po|Paul Chan]]
|-
| {{Flag|Indonesia}}
| [[President of Indonesia|President]]
| [[Prabowo Subianto]]
| [[List of Ministers of Finance (Indonesia)|Minister of Finance]]
| [[Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa]]
|-
| {{Flag|Japan}}
| [[Prime Minister of Japan|Prime Minister]]
| [[Sanae Takaichi]]
| [[Minister of Finance (Japan)|Minister of Finance]]
| [[Satsuki Katayama]]
|-
| {{Flag|South Korea}}
| [[President of South Korea|President]]
| [[Lee Jae Myung]]
| [[Ministry of Economy and Finance (South Korea)|Minister of Economy and Finance]]
| [[Koo Yun-cheol]]
|-
| {{Flag|Malaysia}}
| [[Prime Minister of Malaysia|Prime Minister]]
| [[Anwar Ibrahim]]
| [[Minister of Finance (Malaysia)|Minister of Finance]]<br />[[Minister of Finance (Malaysia)|Second Minister of Finance]]
| [[Anwar Ibrahim]]<br />[[Amir Hamzah Azizan]]
|-
| {{Flag|Mexico}}
| [[President of Mexico|President]]
| [[Claudia Sheinbaum]]
| [[Secretariat of Finance and Public Credit|Secretary of Finance and Public Credit]]
| [[Edgar Amador Zamora]]
|-
| {{Flag|New Zealand}}
| [[Prime Minister of New Zealand|Prime Minister]]
| [[Christopher Luxon]]
| [[Minister of Finance (New Zealand)|Minister of Finance]]
| [[Nicola Willis]]
|-
| {{Flag|Papua New Guinea}}
| [[Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea|Prime Minister]]
| [[James Marape]]
| [[Ministry of Finance (Papua New Guinea)|Minister for Finance and Rural Development]]
| Yangakun Miki Kaeok
|-
| {{Flag|Peru}}
| [[President of Peru|President]]
| [[José Jerí]]<ref name="JeríPeruvianPresidencyTakeOver">{{Cite news |last1=Aquino |first1=Marco |last2=Morland |first2=Sarah |date=10 October 2025 |title=Peru's president removed by Congress, legislature chief sworn in |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/peru-lawmakers-make-fresh-push-remove-unpopular-president-office-2025-10-09/ |access-date=10 October 2025 |work=Reuters}}</ref>
| [[Ministry of Economy and Finance (Peru)|Minister of Economy and Finance]]
| [[:es:Denisse Miralles|Denisse Miralles]]
|-
| {{Flag|Philippines}}
| [[President of the Philippines|President]]
| [[Bongbong Marcos]]
| [[Secretary of Finance (Philippines)|Secretary of Finance]]
| [[Frederick Go]]
|-
| {{Flag|Russia}}
| [[President of Russia|President]]
| [[Vladimir Putin]]
| [[Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation|Minister of Finance]]
| [[Anton Siluanov]]
|-
| {{Flag|Singapore}}
| [[Prime Minister of Singapore|Prime Minister]]
| [[Lawrence Wong]]
| [[Ministry of Finance (Singapore)|Minister of Finance]]
| [[Lawrence Wong]]
|-
| {{Flag|Taiwan}}
| [[President of the Republic of China|President]] / [[List of Chinese Taipei Representatives to APEC|Leader Envoy]]
| [[Lai Ching-te]] (represented by [[Lin Hsin-i]]){{efn|name=ChinTaipei}}
| [[Ministry of Finance (Taiwan)|Minister of Finance]]
| [[Chuang Tsui-yun]]
|-
| {{Flag|Thailand}}
| [[Prime Minister of Thailand|Prime Minister]]
| [[Anutin Charnvirakul]]<ref name="AnutinThaiPrimeMinisterPremiershipAssumption">{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/thailands-new-prime-minister-takes-office/a-73908316|title=Thailand's new prime minister takes office |work=[[Deutsche Welle]]|date=7 September 2025|access-date=9 September 2025}}</ref><ref name="ThaiRoyalEndorsementAnutinThaiPMAssumption">{{cite web|url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/thailand-pm-paetongtarn-court-ruling-decision-hun-sen-cambodia-5321511|title=Thai tycoon Anutin Charnvirakul takes office as PM after royal endorsement|work=[[CNA (TV network)|CNA]]|date=7 September 2025|access-date=9 September 2025}}</ref>
| [[Ministry of Finance (Thailand)|Minister of Finance]]
| [[Ekniti Nitithanprapas]]
|-
| {{Flag|United States}}
| [[President of the United States|President]]
| [[Donald Trump]]
| [[United States Secretary of the Treasury|Secretary of the Treasury]]
| [[Scott Bessent]]
|-
| {{Flag|Vietnam}}
| [[President of Vietnam|President]]{{efn|name=vt}}
| [[Lương Cường]]
| [[Ministry of Finance (Vietnam)|Minister of Finance]]
| [[Nguyễn Văn Thắng (politician)|Nguyễn Văn Thắng]]
|}
====Current leaders====
<gallery class="center" widths="120" perrow="7">
File:Anthony Albanese portrait (cropped).jpg|alt=Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia|'''{{AUS}}'''<br />[[Anthony Albanese]],<br />[[Prime Minister of Australia|Prime Minister]]
File:His Majesty Bolkiah 20231216.jpg|alt=Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei|'''{{BRN}}'''<br />[[Hassanal Bolkiah]],<br />[[List of Sultans of Brunei|Sultan]]
File:2025-11-14 InaugurationREM Deux-Montagnes Mark Carney.jpg|alt=Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney|'''{{CAN}}'''<br />[[Mark Carney]],<br />[[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]]
File:Retrato Oficial Presidente Boric Font (cropped).jpg|alt=Gabriel Boric, President of Chile|'''{{CHI}}'''<br />[[Gabriel Boric]],<br />[[President of Chile|President]]
File:Xi Jinping (June 2025) (cropped).jpg|alt=ChinaXi Jinping,President|'''{{CHN}}'''<br />[[Xi Jinping]],<br />[[General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party|CCP General Secretary]] and [[President of China|President]]{{efn|name=China}}
File:Inmediahk - John Lee 2023 (cropped).jpg|alt=John Lee, Chief Executive of Hong Kong|'''{{HKG}}'''<br />[[John Lee (government official)|John Lee]],<br />[[Chief Executive of Hong Kong|Chief Executive]]
File:Prabowo Subianto 2024 official portrait.jpg|alt=Prabowo Subianto, President of Indonesia|'''{{IDN}}'''<br />[[Prabowo Subianto]],<br />[[President of Indonesia|President]]
File:Sanae Takaichi 20251021 (cropped) 1.jpg|alt=Sanae Takaichi, Prime Minister of Japan|'''{{JPN}}'''<br />[[Sanae Takaichi]],<br />[[Prime Minister of Japan|Prime Minister]]
File:Lee Jae-myung 20250823.jpg|alt=Lee Jae Myung, President of South Korea|'''{{KOR}}'''<br />[[Lee Jae Myung]],<br /> [[President of South Korea|President]]
File:20251026_Anwar_Ibrahim_47th_ASEAN_Summit.jpg|alt=Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia|'''{{MAS}}'''<br />[[Anwar Ibrahim]],<br />[[Prime Minister of Malaysia|Prime Minister]]
File:Claudia Sheinbaum (2025) (cropped).jpg|alt=Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico|'''{{MEX}}'''<br />[[Claudia Sheinbaum]],<br />[[President of Mexico|President]]
File:LUXON, Christopher - Botany (cropped).png|alt=Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand|'''{{NZL}}'''<br />[[Christopher Luxon]],<br />[[Prime Minister of New Zealand|Prime Minister]]
File:Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on July 27, 2023 - 230727-D-TT977-0140 (cropped).jpg|alt=James Marape, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea|'''{{PNG}}'''<br />[[James Marape]],<br />[[Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea|Prime Minister]]
File:César Quispe Luján juramenta como nuevo ministro de la Producción 2 (cropped).jpg|alt=José Jerí, President of Peru|'''{{PER}}'''<br />[[José Jerí]]<ref name="JeríPeruvianPresidencyTakeOver" />,<br />[[President of Peru|President]]
File:Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr (cropped portrait).jpg|alt= Bongbong Marcos, President of the Philippines|'''{{PHL}}'''<br />[[Bongbong Marcos]],<br />[[President of the Philippines|President]]
File:Владимир Путин (08-03-2024) (cropped) (higher res).jpg|alt=Vladimir Putin, President of Russia|'''{{RUS}}'''<br />[[Vladimir Putin]],<br />[[President of Russia|President]]
File:Prime Minister of Singapore Lawrence Wong 250530-D-PM193-4275 (2025).jpg|alt=Lawrence Wong, Prime Minister of Singapore|'''{{SGP}}'''<br />[[Lawrence Wong]],<br />[[Prime Minister of Singapore|Prime Minister]]
File:賴清德總統 (cropped).jpg|alt= Lai Ching-te, President of Taiwan (represented by Lin Hsin-i)|'''{{TWN}}'''<br />[[Lai Ching-te]],<br />[[President of the Republic of China|President]] <br />(represented by [[Lin Hsin-i]]){{efn|name=ChinTaipei}}
File:Anutin Charnvirakul in 2025.jpg|alt=Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister of Thailand|'''{{THA}}'''<br />[[Anutin Charnvirakul]]<ref name="AnutinThaiPrimeMinisterPremiershipAssumption" /><ref name="ThaiRoyalEndorsementAnutinThaiPMAssumption" />,<br />[[Prime Minister of Thailand|Prime Minister]]
File:Official Presidential Portrait of President Donald J. Trump (2025).jpg|alt=Donald Trump, President of the United States|'''{{USA}}'''<br />[[Donald Trump]],<br />[[President of the United States|President]]
File:Luong Cuong 11112024.jpg|'''{{VNM}}'''<br />[[Lương Cường]],<br />[[President of Vietnam|President]]{{efn|name=vt|The actual [[head of government|head of the executive government]] of [[Vietnam]] is the [[Prime Minister of Vietnam|Prime Minister]], whose current holder is [[Phạm Minh Chính]]. The [[President of Vietnam]] is legally the [[head of state]], but the [[General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam]] (practical highest political leader in a [[One-party state|one-party]] [[communist state]]) is being [[Tô Lâm]].}} |alt=Vietnam Lương Cường,President
</gallery>

==Possible enlargement==
[[File:APEC enlargement.svg|thumb|right|upright=1.6|{{Legend|#22b14c|Current members}}{{Legend|#b5e61d|Announced interest in membership}}]]

[[India]] has requested membership in APEC, and received initial support from the United States, South Korea, Australia,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21046591-2702,00.html |title=APEC 'too busy' for free trade deal, says Canberra |publisher=[[The Australian]] |date=12 January 2007 |access-date=4 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102085630/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21046591-2702,00.html |archive-date=2 January 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and Papua New Guinea.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=144616|title=Media Statement by the President of India upon the conclusion of his state visit to Papua New Guinea and New Zealand en route from Auckland to New Delhi|website=pib.nic.in|access-date=8 October 2016|archive-date=8 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190208055944/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=144616|url-status=live}}</ref> Officials have decided not to allow India to join for various reasons, including the fact that India does not border the Pacific Ocean, which all current members do.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hZoirSNiHlYD3ZRa5JhKVsPbnKrA |title=AFP: West worried India would tip APEC power balance: official |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=6 September 2007 |access-date=4 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105084407/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hZoirSNiHlYD3ZRa5JhKVsPbnKrA |archive-date=5 November 2011 }}</ref> However, India was invited to be an observer for the first time in November 2011.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/clinton-urges-india-expand-influence-093840435.html| title=Clinton urges India to expand influence| first=Matthew| last=Lee| agency=[[Associated Press]]| date=20 July 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224145655/http://news.yahoo.com/clinton-urges-india-expand-influence-093840435.html| archive-date=24 February 2015| url-status=live}}</ref>

Bangladesh,<ref name="applicants"/> Pakistan,<ref name="applicants"/> Sri Lanka,<ref name="applicants"/> [[Macau]],<ref name="applicants"/> Mongolia,<ref name="applicants">{{cite web|url=http://www.macaudailytimes.com.mo/macau/23904-negotiations-APEC-membership.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130221050503/http://www.macaudailytimes.com.mo/macau/23904-negotiations-APEC-membership.html|url-status=dead|title=MACAU DAILY TIMES – No negotiations on APEC membership|date=21 February 2013|archive-date=21 February 2013|access-date=12 November 2017}}</ref> Laos,<ref name="applicants"/> Cambodia,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.india-voice.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=24&Itemid=50|title=India Voice – India will have to wait for APEC membership|first=Neena|last=Bhandari|website=india-voice.com|access-date=12 November 2017|archive-date=13 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113070622/http://www.india-voice.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=24&Itemid=50|url-status=dead}}</ref> Costa Rica,<ref name=aq>{{cite news |first=Alex |last=Leff |title=Costa Rica Inches Toward Coveted APEC Membership |url=http://www.americasquarterly.org/node/2600 |work=[[Americas Quarterly]] |date=22 June 2011 |access-date=22 June 2011 |archive-date=5 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405122728/http://www.americasquarterly.org/node/2600 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Colombia]],<ref name=aq/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dominicantoday.com/app/article.aspx?id=16917 |title=Peru, Colombia seek closer Central America, APEC trade ties – |publisher=Dominicantoday.com |date=29 August 2006 |access-date=4 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014062657/http://dominicantoday.com/app/article.aspx?id=16917 |archive-date=14 October 2007 }}</ref> Panama,<ref name=aq/> and Ecuador,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.people.com.cn/200410/08/eng20041008_159319.html |title=People's Daily Online – Ecuador seeks APEC accession in 2007 |work=People's Daily |date=8 October 2004 |access-date=4 November 2011 |archive-date=5 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405122756/http://english.people.com.cn/200410/08/eng20041008_159319.html |url-status=live }}</ref> are among a dozen other economies that have applied for membership in APEC. Colombia applied for APEC's membership as early as in 1995, but its bid was halted as the organisation stopped accepting new members from 1993 to 1996,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.people.com.cn/200609/06/eng20060906_300141.html |title=People's Daily Online – Colombia seeks APEC membership in 2007: FM |work=People's Daily |date=6 September 2006 |access-date=4 November 2011 |archive-date=5 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405122753/http://english.people.com.cn/200609/06/eng20060906_300141.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and the moratorium was further prolonged to 2007 due to the [[1997 Asian financial crisis]].{{cn|date=August 2025}}

==Business facilitation==
As a regional organization, APEC has always played a leading role in the area of reform initiatives in the area of business facilitation. The APEC Trade Facilitation Action Plan (TFAPI) has contributed to a reduction of 6% in the cost of business transactions across the region between 2002 and 2006. According to APEC's projections, the cost of conducting business transactions will be reduced by another 5% between 2007 and 2010. To this end, a new Trade Facilitation Action Plan has been endorsed. According to a 2008 research brief published by the [[World Bank]] as part of its Trade Costs and Facilitation Project, increasing transparency in the region's trading system is critical if APEC is to meet its Bogor Goal targets.<ref>[http://econ.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=1697684&pagePK=64168176&piPK=64168140&theSitePK=1697658 "Transparency Reform Could Raise Trade by $148 Billion in APEC"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530045149/http://econ.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=1697684&pagePK=64168176&piPK=64168140&theSitePK=1697658 |date=30 May 2008 }} [[John S. Wilson (economist)|John S. Wilson]] & Benjamin Taylor; Trade Facilitation Reform Research Brief, The World Bank. 2008.</ref> The [[APEC Business Travel Card]], a [[travel document]] for visa-free business travel within the region is one of the concrete measures to facilitate business. In May 2010 Russia joined the scheme, thus completing the circle.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Russia joins the APEC Business Travel Card Scheme|url = http://apec.org/Press/News-Releases/2010/0529_russia_abtc.aspx|website = apec.org|access-date = 5 August 2015|date = 29 May 2010|location = Sapporo|archive-date = 9 November 2011|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111109094411/http://www.apec.org/Press/News-Releases/2010/0529_russia_abtc.aspx|url-status = dead}}</ref>

=== Proposed FTAAP ===

APEC first formally started discussing the concept of a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) at its summit in 2006 in Hanoi. However, the proposal for such an area has been around since at least 1966 and Japanese economist {{Interlanguage link multi|Kiyoshi Kojima|ja|3=小島清}}'s proposal for a Pacific Free Trade agreement. While it gained little traction, the idea led to the formation of [[Pacific Trade and Development Conference]] and then the [[Pacific Economic Cooperation Council]] in 1980 and then APEC in 1989.{{cn|date=August 2025}}

In the wake of the 2006 summit, economist C. Fred Bergsten advocated a Free Trade Agreement of Asia-Pacific, including the United States amongst the proposed parties to any agreement at that time.<ref>[[C. Fred Bergsten|Bergsten, C. Fred]], "Toward a Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific", [[Peterson Institute for International Economics]] Number Pb07-2. Pdf can be found via Google. Retrieved 9 November 2014.</ref> His ideas convinced the APEC Business Advisory Council to support this concept. Relatedly, ASEAN and existing [[free trade agreement]] (FTA) partners negotiated the [[Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership]] (RCEP), not officially including Russia.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://thebricspost.com/china-led-rcep-trade-talks-to-begin-in-may/ |title=China-led RCEP trade talks to begin in May |website=The BRICS Post |date=25 April 2013 |access-date=10 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110180611/http://thebricspost.com/china-led-rcep-trade-talks-to-begin-in-may/ |archive-date=10 November 2014 |url-status=deviated}}</ref> The [[Trans-Pacific Partnership]] (TPP) without China or Russia involved became the US-promoted trade negotiation in the region. At the APEC summit in Beijing in 2014, the three plans were all in discussion.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Chinese President touts 'Asia-Pacific dream' |url=https://www.dw.com/en/chinas-president-xi-touts-asia-pacific-dream-ahead-of-apec-summit/a-18050065 |date=11 September 2014 |access-date=6 July 2023 |publisher=Deutsche Welle |archive-date=16 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230116213102/https://www.dw.com/en/chinas-president-xi-touts-asia-pacific-dream-ahead-of-apec-summit/a-18050065 |url-status=live}}</ref> President Obama hosted a TPP meeting at the US Embassy in Beijing in advance of the APEC gathering.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Harper, Obama attend Asia-Pacific trade deal meeting in Beijing |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/1662792/harper-obama-attend-trade-meeting-in-beijing-as-deadline-for-deal-nears/ |first=Lee-Anne |last=Goodman |website=Global News |agency=The Canadian Press |date=10 November 2014 |access-date=6 July 2023 |archive-date=7 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141207131000/http://globalnews.ca/news/1662792/harper-obama-attend-trade-meeting-in-beijing-as-deadline-for-deal-nears/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

The proposal for a FTAAP arose due to the lack of progress in the [[Doha round]] of [[World Trade Organization]] negotiations, and as a way to overcome the "noodle bowl" effect created by overlapping and conflicting elements of the copious free trade agreements – there were approximately 60 free trade agreements in 2007, with an additional 117 in the process of negotiation in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region.<ref name="BD">{{cite web|url=http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2007/09northeastasia_brilliant.aspx |title=FTAAP |publisher=Brookings.edu |date=September 2007 |access-date=4 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920100958/http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2007/09northeastasia_brilliant.aspx |archive-date=20 September 2011 }}</ref> In 2012, ASEAN+6 countries alone had 339 free trade agreements – many of which were bilateral.{{efn|"As of January 2012 ASEAN countries have 186 FTAs implemented, signed, under negotiation or under proposal/study, which is substantial progress since… 1992. The [[ASEAN+6]] countries have a total of 339 FTAs, including between ASEAN countries and the '+6' countries."<ref>Chia Siow Yue. "The Emerging Regional Economic Integration Architecture in East Asia". ''Asian Economic Papers (MIT Press)''. Vol. 12, No. 1 (2013): p. 1–37</ref>}}

The FTAAP is more ambitious in scope than the Doha round, which limits itself to reducing trade restrictions. The FTAAP would create a free trade zone that would considerably expand commerce and economic growth in the region.<ref name="BD"/><ref name="VG">{{cite web |url=http://www.petersoninstitute.org/publications/opeds/oped.cfm?ResearchID=655 |title=Plan B for World Trade |publisher=Petersoninstitute.org |access-date=4 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102223950/http://www.petersoninstitute.org/publications/opeds/oped.cfm?ResearchID=655 |archive-date=2 January 2016 |url-status=dead }} No reference to numbers of FTAs.</ref> The economic expansion and growth in trade could exceed the expectations of other regional free trade areas such as the [[ASEAN Plus Three]] (ASEAN + China, South Korea and Japan).<ref name="VSM">[http://www.iie.com/publications/pb/pb07-2.pdf Policy Briefs in International Economics] (PDF) {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010183255/http://www.iie.com/publications/pb/pb07-2.pdf |date=10 October 2007 }}</ref> Some criticisms include that the diversion of trade within APEC members would create trade imbalances, market conflicts and complications with nations of other regions.<ref name="VG"/> The development of the FTAAP is expected to take many years, involving essential studies, evaluations and negotiations between member economies.<ref name="BD"/> It is also affected by the absence of political will and popular agitations and lobbying against free trade in domestic politics.<ref name="BD"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific |url=https://www.pecc.org/research/ftaap |website=pecc.org |access-date=16 January 2023 |archive-date=16 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230116213103/https://www.pecc.org/research/ftaap |url-status=live}}</ref>

At the 2014 APEC summit in Beijing, APEC leaders agreed to launch "a collective strategic study" on the FTAAP and instruct officials to undertake the study, consult stakeholders and report the result by the end of 2016.<ref>{{Cite news |title=APEC roadmap on FTAAP a historic decision: Xi |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2014-11/11/c_133782162.htm |website=Xinhuanet |date=11 November 2014 |access-date=16 January 2023 |archive-date=7 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207014747/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2014-11/11/c_133782162.htm}}</ref> APEC Executive Director Alan Bollard revealed in the Elite Talk show that FTAAP will be APEC's big goal out into the future.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Elite Talk: A talk with APEC chief Alan Bollard on China's APEC championship, the FTAAP and New Silk Road |url=http://en.people.cn/102775/310666/index.html |website=People's Daily Online |date=10 November 2014 |access-date=16 January 2023 |archive-date=8 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108095239/http://en.people.cn/102775/310666/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Trans-Pacific Partnership]] included 12 of the 21 APEC members and had provisions for the accession of other APEC members, five of which expressed interest in membership.{{cn|date=August 2025}}

== APEC Study Centre Consortium ==

In 1993, APEC Leaders decided to establish a network of APEC Study Centres (APCs) among universities and research institutions in member economies. The purpose is to foster cooperation among tertiary and research institutes of member economies, thus having better academic collaboration on key regional economic challenges. To encourage independence from the APEC conference, the APCs are funded independently and choose their own research topics.<ref name="ASCC">{{Cite web|url=http://www.apec.org/en/Groups/Other-Groups/APEC-Study-Centers-Consortium.aspx|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201162758/http://www.apec.org/en/Groups/Other-Groups/APEC-Study-Centers-Consortium.aspx|url-status=dead|title=APEC Study Center Contortium|archivedate=1 December 2010}}</ref>

As of December 2018, there are 70 APCs among the member economies. An annual conference is usually held in the host economy for that year.<ref name="ASCC" />

==APEC Business Advisory Council==
The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) was created by the APEC Economic Leaders in November 1995 with the aim of providing advice to the APEC Economic Leaders on ways to achieve the Bogor Goals and other specific business sector priorities, and to provide the business perspective on specific areas of co-operation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.abaconline.org/|title=Home – APEC Business Advisory Council |website=abaconline.org|access-date=12 November 2017|archive-date=5 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405122805/https://www2.abaconline.org/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ncapec.org/abac/index.html|title=National Center for APEC – About ABAC|website=ncapec.org|access-date=12 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113003551/http://www.ncapec.org/abac/index.html|archive-date=13 November 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Each economy nominates up to three members from the private sector to ABAC. These business leaders represent a wide range of industry sectors. ABAC provides an annual report to APEC Economic Leaders containing recommendations to improve the business and investment environment in the Asia-Pacific region, and outlining business views about priority regional issues. ABAC is also the only non-governmental organisation that is on the official agenda of the APEC Economic Leader's Meeting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chinaapec.org/en/about_apec/content_2.shtml|title=APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) – China APEC Development Council|website=chinaapec.org|access-date=12 November 2017|archive-date=5 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405122807/http://www.chinaapec.org/en/about_apec/content_2.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{anchor|APEC Economic Leaders' Meetings}}<!--linked-->

==Annual APEC economic leaders' meetings==
{{Refimprove section|date=March 2024}}
[[File:1996 Asia Pacific Economic Leaders Meeting (APEC) Philippines - Subic Bay Freeport Zone.webm|thumb|280px|right|Summary video of the APEC Philippines 1996 Meeting]]
Since its formation in 1989, APEC has held annual meetings with representatives from all member economies. The first four annual meetings were attended by ministerial-level officials. Beginning in 1993, the annual meetings are named APEC Economic Leaders' Meetings and are attended by the [[heads of government]] from all member economies except Taiwan, which is represented by a ministerial-level official.<ref name="calendar"/>

=== Meeting developments ===

In 1997, the APEC meeting was held in [[Vancouver]]. Controversy arose after officers of the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]] used [[pepper spray]] against protesters. The protesters objected to the presence of [[autocratic]] leaders such as Indonesian president [[Suharto]].<ref name="Pue 2000">{{cite book |first=W. Wesley |last=Pue |title=Pepper in our Eyes: the APEC Affair |year=2000 |publisher=UBC Press |location=Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |isbn=978-0-7748-0779-1 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/pepperinoureyesa0000unse }}
</ref><ref name="Wallace 1998">{{cite news
 |first=Bruce
 |last=Wallace
 |url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=M1ARTM0011768
 |title=APEC Protest Controversy
 |work=[[Maclean's]] via [[The Canadian Encyclopedia]]
 |publisher=Historica Foundation of Canada
 |date=21 September 1998
|access-date=6 September 2006
|url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930060927/http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=M1ARTM0011768
 |archive-date=30 September 2007
}}</ref><ref name="Nuttall-Smith 1997">{{cite news
 |first       = Chris
 |last        = Nuttall-Smith
 |others      = Sarah Galashan
 |url         = http://www.varsity.utoronto.ca/archives/118/nov27/news/APEC.html
 |title       = APEC summit gets nasty at UBC
 |work        = Varsity News
 |publisher   = Varsity Publications, Inc.
 |date        = 27 November 1997
|access-date  = 6 September 2006
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20061013060134/http://www.varsity.utoronto.ca/archives/118/nov27/news/APEC.html
 |archive-date = 13 October 2006
|url-status     = dead
}}</ref><ref name="Schmidt 1998">{{cite news
 |first       = Sarah
 |last        = Schmidt
 |url         = http://www.varsity.utoronto.ca/archives/118/jan06/news/APEC.html
 |title       = Student protesters fight back for civil rights
 |work        = Varsity News
 |publisher   = Varsity Publications, Inc.
 |date        = 6 January 1998
|access-date  = 6 September 2006
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20061013050320/http://www.varsity.utoronto.ca/archives/118/jan06/news/APEC.html
 |archive-date = 13 October 2006
|url-status     = dead
}}</ref><ref name="BCCLA 1997 APEC">{{cite press release
 |title       = Civil rights group denounces attack on UBC students' APEC protests
 |publisher   = British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA)
 |date        = 23 November 1997
|url         = http://www.bccla.org/pressreleases/97apec.html
 |access-date  = 6 September 2006
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20061005104658/http://www.bccla.org/pressreleases/97apec.html
 |archive-date = 5 October 2006
|url-status     = dead
}}</ref><ref name="BCCLA 1997 Jones Arrested">{{cite press release
 |title=Student member of BCCLA executive arrested!
 |publisher=British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA)
 |date=25 November 1997
|url=http://www.bccla.org/pressreleases/97jonesarrested.html
 |access-date=6 September 2006
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061005103427/http://www.bccla.org/pressreleases/97jonesarrested.html
 |archive-date=5 October 2006
|url-status=dead
}}</ref>

At the [[2001 Leaders' Meeting]] in Shanghai, APEC leaders pushed for a new round of trade negotiations and support for a program of trade capacity-building assistance, leading to the launch of the Doha Development Agenda a few weeks later. The meeting also endorsed the Shanghai Accord proposed by the United States, emphasising the implementation of open markets, structural reform, and [[capacity building]]. As part of the accord, the meeting committed to develop and implement APEC transparency standards, reduce trade [[transaction cost]]s in the Asia-Pacific region by five percent over five years, and pursue [[Free trade|trade liberalisation]] policies relating to information technology goods and services.{{cn|date=August 2025}}

In 2003, [[Jemaah Islamiah]] leader [[Riduan Isamuddin]] had planned to attack the APEC Leaders Meeting to be held in [[Bangkok]] in October. He was captured in the city of [[Ayutthaya (city)|Ayutthaya]], Thailand by Thai police on 11 August 2003, before he could finish planning the attack.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bonner |first=David Johnston With Raymond |date=2003-08-15 |title=Suspect in Indonesia Bombings Is Captured in Asia |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/15/world/suspect-in-indonesia-bombings-is-captured-in-asia.html |access-date=2024-07-19 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Chile became the first South American nation to host the Leaders' Meeting in 2004. The agenda of that year was focused on terrorism and commerce, [[small and medium enterprise]] development, and contemplation of free agreements and regional trade agreements.{{cn|date=August 2025}}

The 2005 Leaders' Meeting was held in [[Busan]], South Korea. The meeting focused on the [[Doha round]] of [[World Trade Organization]] (WTO) negotiations, leading up to the [[WTO Ministerial Conference of 2005]] held in Hong Kong in December. Weeks earlier, trade negotiations in Paris were held between several WTO members, including the United States and the [[European Union]], centred on reducing agricultural [[trade barrier]]s. APEC leaders at the summit urged the European Union to agree to reduce [[farm subsidies]]. In a continuation of the climate information sharing initiative established by the APEC Climate Network working group, it was decided by the leaders to install the [[APEC Climate Center]] in Busan. Peaceful protests against APEC were staged in Busan, but the meeting schedule was not affected.{{cn|date=August 2025}}

At the Leaders' Meeting held on 19 November 2006 in [[Hanoi]], APEC leaders called for a new start to global free-trade negotiations while condemning terrorism and other threats to security. APEC also criticised North Korea for conducting a [[2006 North Korean nuclear test|nuclear test]] and a [[2006 North Korean missile test|missile test launch]] that year, urging the country to take "concrete and effective" steps toward [[nuclear disarmament]]. Concerns about [[nuclear proliferation]] in the region was discussed in addition to economic topics. The United States and Russia signed an agreement as part of Russia's bid to join the World Trade Organization.{{cn|date=August 2025}}

The [[APEC Australia 2007]] Leaders' Meeting was held in Sydney from 2–9 September 2007. The political leaders agreed to an "aspirational goal" of a 25% reduction of energy intensity correlative with economic development.<ref name=wnn>{{cite web | publisher= [[World Nuclear News]] | url= http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/energyEnvironment/APEC_supports_nuclear_agrees_climate_targets.shtml | title = Apec supports nuclear, agrees climate targets | date = 10 September 2007 | access-date=15 September 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071004151857/http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/energyEnvironment/APEC_supports_nuclear_agrees_climate_targets.shtml| archive-date= 4 October 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref> Extreme security measures including airborne sharpshooters and extensive steel-and-concrete barricades were deployed against anticipated protesters and potential terrorists. However, protest activities were peaceful and the security envelope was penetrated with ease by a [[The Chaser APEC pranks|spoof diplomatic motorcade]] manned by members of the Australian television program ''[[The Chaser]]'', one of whom was dressed to resemble the [[Al-Qaeda]] leader [[Osama bin Laden]].{{cn|date=August 2025}}

The [[APEC Chile 2019]], originally to be held 16–17 November 2019 in Chile, was cancelled due to [[2019–2020 Chilean protests|ongoing protests]] by sections of its population over inequality, the cost of living and police repression.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/30/chile-protests-president-sebastian-pinera-protest-unrest|title=Chilean president cancels Apec and climate summits amid wave of unrest|last1=Phillips|first1=Tom|date=30 October 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=4 November 2019|last2=Watts|first2=Jonathan|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|last3=Franklin|first3=Jonathan|archive-date=29 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029212058/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/30/chile-protests-president-sebastian-pinera-protest-unrest|url-status=live}}</ref>

The 2023 [[APEC United States 2023|APEC]] meeting was notable for a lack of consensuses of group members on their stance over the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russia–Ukraine]] and [[Gaza war|Gaza conflicts]] as well as consensus for [[World Trade Organization|WTO]] reforms. The meeting between [[Joe Biden|Biden]] and [[Xi Jinping|Xi]] was also seen as significant in terms of reducing tensions between the US and China.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-11-18 |title=Apec summit ends with unity on WTO reform but not Gaza or Ukraine |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/18/apec-summit-ends-with-unity-on-wto-reform-but-not-gaza-or-ukraine |access-date=2023-11-22 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

===APEC leaders' group photo===
At the end of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, the leaders gather for the official APEC Leaders' Family Photo. A tradition has the leaders dressing to reflect the culture of the host member. The tradition dates to the first such meeting in 1993 when then-U.S.&nbsp;President [[Bill Clinton]] insisted on informal attire and gave the leaders leather [[Flight jacket|bomber jackets]]. At the 2010 meeting, Japan had the leaders dress in smart casual rather than the traditional [[kimono]].<ref name="no_kimono">{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6AA4H220101111 |title=No kimonos for APEC leaders in Japan |work=Reuters |date=11 November 2010 |access-date=12 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101115061555/https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6AA4H220101111 |archive-date=15 November 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> Similarly, when Honolulu was selected in 2009 as the site for the 2011 APEC meeting, U.S.&nbsp;President [[Barack Obama]] joked that he looked forward to seeing the leaders dressed in "flowered shirts and grass skirts". After viewing previous photos, and concerned that having the leaders dress in [[aloha shirt]]s might give the wrong impression during a period of economic austerity, Obama instead decided it might be time to end the tradition. Leaders were given a specially designed aloha shirt as a gift but were not expected to wear it for the photo.<ref name="no_aloha_shirts">{{cite news|url=http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/133780488.html?id=133780488|title=No aloha for Hawaiian shirts at APEC family photo|work=Honolulu Star-Advertiser|date=13 November 2011|access-date=13 November 2011|archive-date=16 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016184919/http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/133780488.html?id=133780488|url-status=dead}}</ref> Leaders in Bali, Indonesia at the 2013 conference wore a batik outfit; in China 2014 Tang suit jackets; in the Philippines 2015 [[barong tagalog]]s; in Peru 2016 [[vicuña wool]] shawls; in 2017 Vietnamese silk shirts.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2015/nov/17/awkward-apec-fashion-what-the-world-leaders-wore-in-pictures |title=Awkward Apec Fashion: what the world leaders wore |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=8 November 2018 |website=The Guardian |access-date=10 November 2018 |archive-date=9 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109234036/https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2015/nov/17/awkward-apec-fashion-what-the-world-leaders-wore-in-pictures |url-status=live }}</ref>

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<gallery widths="200" heights="200">
File:Photograph of President William Jefferson Clinton and Leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) on the Tyee Ferry on Blake Island in Seattle, Washington - NARA - 5720209.jpg|APEC United States 1993
File:Vladimir Putin at APEC Summit in Brunei 15-16 November-9.jpg|APEC Brunei 2000
File:Vladimir Putin at APEC Summit in China 19-21 October 2001-14.jpg|[[APEC China 2001]]
File:Vladimir Putin at APEC Summit in Thailand 19-21 October 2003-16.jpg|[[APEC Thailand 2003]]
File:Vladimir Putin at APEC Summit in Chile 20-21 November 2004-3.jpg|[[APEC Chile 2004]]
File:Vladimir Putin at APEC Summit in South Korea 18-19 November 2005-8.jpg|[[APEC South Korea 2005]]
File:Vladimir Putin at APEC Summit in Vietnam 18-19 November 2006-11.jpg|[[APEC Vietnam 2006]]
File:Vladimir Putin at APEC Summit in Australia 7-9 September 2007-3.jpg|[[APEC Australia 2007]]
File:Dmitry Medvedev at APEC Summit in Peru 22-23 November 2008-2.jpg|[[APEC Peru 2008]]
File:Singapore APEC 2009 leaders.jpg|[[APEC Singapore 2009]]
File:13.11.2010 Gira a Asia.jpg|[[APEC Japan 2010]]
File:APEC Hawaii.jpg|[[APEC United States 2011]]
File:APEC Russia 2012.jpg|[[APEC Russia 2012]]
File:Apec 2013.jpg|[[APEC Indonesia 2013]]
File:APEC Summit China 2014.jpg|[[APEC China 2014]]
File:APEC Philippines 2015 delegates.jpg|[[APEC Philippines 2015]]
File:Foto Oficial APEC 2016 (LIMA PERU).jpg|[[APEC Peru 2016]]
File:APEC Vietnam 2017 Leaders Meeting.jpg|[[APEC Vietnam 2017]]
File:APEC Leaders Photo - Papua New Guinea 2018.jpg|[[APEC Papua New Guinea 2018]]
File:President Joe Biden participates in a family photo with APEC leaders and guest leaders on November 16, 2023 in San Francisco, California.jpg|[[APEC United States 2023]]
File:APEC Peru 2024 family photo.jpg|[[APEC Peru 2024]]
File:20251101 Sanae Takaichi at the APEC South Korea 2025 (1).jpg|[[APEC South Korea 2025]]
</gallery>
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Part of the point of the photo and of this gallery is THE WEARING OF HOST NATION CLOTHING. Please do not substitute pictures in business suits if there is a host nation clothing picture available
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===APEC Summits===
* {{flagicon| Australia}} [[APEC Australia 1989]] 
* {{flagicon| Singapore}} [[APEC Singapore 1990]]
* {{flagicon| South Korea}} [[APEC South Korea 1991]]
* {{flagicon| Thailand}} [[APEC Thailand 1992]]
* {{flagicon|United States}} [[APEC United States 1993]]
* {{flagicon|Indonesia}} [[APEC Indonesia 1994]]
* {{flagicon|Japan}} [[APEC Japan 1995]]
* {{flagicon|Philippines}} [[APEC Philippines 1996]]
* {{flagicon|Canada}} [[APEC Canada 1997]]
* {{flagicon|Malaysia}} [[APEC Malaysia 1998]]
* {{flagicon|New Zealand}} [[APEC New Zealand 1999]]
* {{flagicon|Brunei}} [[APEC Brunei 2000]]
* {{flagicon|China}} [[APEC China 2001]]
* {{flagicon|Mexico}} [[APEC Mexico 2002]]
* {{flagicon|Thailand}} [[APEC Thailand 2003]]
* {{flagicon|Chile}} [[APEC Chile 2004]]
* {{flagicon|South Korea}} [[APEC South Korea 2005]]
* {{flagicon|Vietnam}} [[APEC Vietnam 2006]]
* {{flagicon|Australia}} [[APEC Australia 2007]]
* {{flagicon|Peru}} [[APEC Peru 2008]]
* {{flagicon|Singapore}} [[APEC Singapore 2009]]
* {{flagicon|Japan}} [[APEC Japan 2010]]
* {{flagicon|United States}} [[APEC United States 2011]]
* {{flagicon|Russia}} [[APEC Russia 2012]]
* {{flagicon|Indonesia}} [[APEC Indonesia 2013]]
* {{flagicon|China}} [[APEC China 2014]]
* {{flagicon|Philippines}} [[APEC Philippines 2015]]
* {{flagicon|Peru}} [[APEC Peru 2016]]
* {{flagicon|Vietnam}} [[APEC Vietnam 2017]]
* {{flagicon|Papua New Guinea}} [[APEC Papua New Guinea 2018]]
* {{flagicon|Chile}} [[APEC Chile 2019]]
* {{flagicon|Malaysia}} [[APEC Malaysia 2020]]
* {{flagicon|New Zealand}} [[APEC New Zealand 2021]]
* {{flagicon|Thailand}} [[APEC Thailand 2022]]
* {{flagicon|United States}} [[APEC United States 2023]]
* {{flagicon|Peru}} [[APEC Peru 2024]]
* {{flagicon|South Korea}} [[APEC South Korea 2025]]
* {{flagicon|China}} [[APEC China 2026]]
* {{flagicon|Vietnam}} [[APEC Vietnam 2027]]
* {{flagicon|Mexico}} [[APEC Mexico 2028]]

==Criticism==
APEC has been criticised for promoting free trade agreements that would impose restrictions on national and local laws, which regulate and ensure labour rights, environmental protection and safe and affordable access to medicine.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gerhardt |first=Tina |date=11 November 2011 |url=http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/11/11-0 |title=America's Pacific Century?: APEC Summit in Hawaii Seeks to Implement Free Trade Agreement of the Asia Pacific Region |work=[[Commondreams]] |access-date=26 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527010511/http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/11/11-0 |archive-date=27 May 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> According to the organisation, it is "the premier forum for facilitating economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region" established to "further enhance economic growth and prosperity for the region and to strengthen the Asia-Pacific community".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.apec.org/apec/about_apec.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119101455/http://www.apec.org/apec/about_apec.html|url-status=dead|title=About APEC – Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation|archive-date=19 November 2010}}</ref> The effectiveness and fairness of its role has been questioned, especially from the viewpoints of European countries that cannot take part in APEC<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9788478 |newspaper=The Economist |title=APEC—a pretty empty chatter |date=12 September 2007 |access-date=26 May 2008 |archive-date=8 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090208194518/http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9788478 |url-status=live }}</ref> and Pacific Island nations that cannot participate but stand to be affected by its decisions.

== See also ==
* [[Anti-corruption]]
* [[ASEAN Free Trade Area]]
* [[Asia-Europe Meeting]]
* [[Asia-Pacific Trade Agreements Database]]
* [[East Asia Economic Caucus]]
* [[East Asia Summit]]
* [[List of country groupings]]
* [[List of multilateral free-trade agreements]]
* [[Pacific Alliance]]
* [[Pacific Economic Cooperation Council]]
* [[University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific]]

=== Other organisations of coastal states ===
* [[Bay of Bengal Initiative]]
* [[Black Sea Economic Cooperation]]
* [[Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation]]
* [[Union for the Mediterranean]]

==Notes==
{{noteslist}}
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite journal |last=Alkan |first=Abdulkadir |year=2014 |title=APEC 2014: Better diplomatic ties for better economic relations |journal=Daily Sabah |url=http://www.dailysabah.com/asia/2014/11/15/apec-2014-better-diplomatic-ties-for-better-economic-relations}}
* {{cite journal |last=Fazzone |first=Patrick B. |year=2012 |title=The Trans-Pacific Partnership—Towards a Free Trade Agreement of Asia Pacific? |journal=Georgetown Journal of International Law |volume=43 |issue=3 |pages=695–743 |issn=1550-5200 }}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation}}
* [https://www.apec.org/ Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070921042543/http://digital.library.unt.edu/govdocs/crs/search.tkl?q=apec&search_crit=title&search=Search&date1=Anytime&date2=Anytime&type=form Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports regarding APEC]

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