We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
from SECTION IV - TRADE, INVESTMENT AND ECOTECH
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 October 2015
Introduction
A new metaphor has recently been created for APEC. For a long time, the three functions of APEC have been said to include the support of (a) trade and investment liberalization, (b) trade and investment facilitation, and (c) economic and technical co-operation. These three functions have become the “Three Pillars” of APEC, defining its unique existence and activities. In early April 2001, however, a new analogy was made in Beijing that likened the main functions of APEC to two wheels of a bicycle — the front wheel being trade and investment liberalization and facilitation (TILF), and the rear wheel being economic and technical cooperation (ECOTECH). Since then, this new metaphor has been mentioned in many subsequent APEC-related meetings. It has obviously improved upon the original “Three Pillars” concept of APEC for its dynamic forward movement, and a better sense of balance between trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and economic and technical co-operation.
However, while this development can be seen as part of the efforts to enhance the status of ECOTECH in APEC, there are many more developments that are required to truly push ECOTECH onto a higher ground of official and popular recognition in APEC. In this short chapter, I would like to discuss some of these developments or changes that are required. However, before discussion of this point, the past achievements of APEC on ECOTECH matters and the reasons behind these achievements will be dealt with. The following section will then discuss forthcoming changes and expectations that may give the APEC forum that handles ECOTECH matters its new enhanced status. Finally, the chapter concludes with some observations on the future success of APEC as a result of these new developments.
Past Achievements in ECOTECH Matters
By now, ECOTECH is a well-known acronym in APEC. What is not well known, however, are ECOTECH's achievements in the APEC process. The ECOTECH agenda is run by the Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) Subcommittee on ECOTECH, or ESC. According to the terms of reference (TOR) for the ESC, this subcommittee will assist the SOM in co-ordinating and managing APEC's ECOTECH agenda, as well as in identifying value-added initiatives for co-operative action.
To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.
Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.
Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.
