How APEC benefits everyday lives

APEC works to improve lives and create more opportunities across the Asia-Pacific by:

Ensuring trade and investment benefit everyone — workers, women, small businesses and underserved communities — by including diverse groups in policy decisions.

Helping economies tackle climate change through innovative technology, targeted investments and smart policies.

Making it easier for economies to adapt and thrive together by aligning regulations, using digital tools to streamline trade and solving supply chain challenges.

These efforts mean the benefits of trade and investment — better jobs, stronger communities and a brighter future — are shared by everyone throughout the region.

Given its size and influence, it’s important for APEC members to work together on key issues like trade, investment and sustainability. APEC provides a platform for this collaboration, creating a more open, resilient and peaceful economic community.

In a world full of unexpected changes, APEC’s work helps strengthen our economic, trade and investment policies. This means that when disasters, pandemics or recessions strike, people, communities and industries can recover faster and stronger.

Why APEC matters

From 1989 to 2023, the value of goods traded within the Asia-Pacific region rose from US$3 trillion to US$14 trillion, while the average tariff rate fell from over 10% to below 5%. These figures show how APEC has played a major role in driving regional openness and prosperity over the past three decades.

How does APEC differ from the World Trade Organization (WTO)?

APEC and the WTO are complementary in that both are working towards the same goals of free and open trade and investment across borders.

APEC operates on the basis of non-binding commitments, open dialogue and equal respect for the views of all participants. Unlike the WTO or other multilateral trade bodies, APEC has no treaty obligations required of its participants. Decisions made within APEC are reached by consensus and commitments are undertaken on a voluntary basis.

What are the benefits of being an APEC member?

APEC member economies benefit from being a part of APEC at many levels. At a multilateral level, APEC brings together the views of 21 member economies, the business community and other parties to attend to issues that impact on the Asia-Pacific region. APEC is a meeting place of ideas, concerns and plans for the future growth of the region.

For developing economies, APEC provides additional benefits in areas such as the development of procedures, policy frameworks and systems to deal with contemporary issues. These issues range from transparency and governance to financial sector reform and customs procedures. There are numerous APEC forums, working group meetings and seminars throughout the year in which representatives from developing economies have the opportunity to learn new skills and best practices from other economies.

Developing economies also have the opportunity to help set APEC's agenda and have as much say as some of the largest economies in the world.

For businesses from APEC member economies, the most obvious benefits are the reduction in barriers and impediments to trade across borders.

Who works at the APEC Secretariat?

Based in Singapore, the APEC Secretariat is staffed by around 60 people, including about 17 seconded diplomatic personnel from member economies who oversee APEC working groups. Staff employed directly by the Secretariat fulfill specialist and support functions.

The Secretariat is headed by an Executive Director. The APEC Secretariat serves as the core support mechanism for the APEC process, providing procedural guidance, coordination, information and public outreach services.

The APEC Secretariat is housed in a building funded by the Government of Singapore that is located on the grounds of the National University of Singapore.

APEC employment opportunities

From time to time APEC has employment openings for a range of positions that are currently filled at the APEC Secretariat. These positions range from secretarial and support positions to specialist positions ranging from information technology, to document management and communications.These positions are advertised on the APEC Website.

How can I participate in APEC events?

APEC actively involves key stakeholders from the business sector, industry, academia, policy and research institutions, and interest groups within the community in the APEC process. More specifically APEC welcomes participation that —

• Facilitates the attainment of APEC goals through appropriate partnerships,

• Strengthens the quality of APEC's work by drawing on relevant insight and expertise, and

• Strengthens understanding and support for APEC's goals through openness, transparency and a broad-based partnership that seeks multiple perspectives from the community.

In general, non-member economies, organizations, business/private sector representatives, academic bodies and other experts may apply or be invited to APEC activities, subject to established guidelines.