Special Ep. - Assessing US Objectives for APEC 2023

Current Accounts: The Hinrich Foundation Trade Podcast

In this special edition of Current Accounts, the Hinrich Foundation’s global trade podcast, guest host former US Representative Charles Boustany leads a discussion on the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum 2023 with former US Deputy Trade Representative Robert Holleyman and Shihoko Goto of the Wilson Center. The episode was first featured in Asia Insight, the podcast of the National Bureau of Asian Research.
The United States will host the APEC forum in 2023. Under APEC’s 2023 theme, “Creating a Resilient and Sustainable Future for All”, the United States is set to spearhead efforts on key issues such as supply chain resilience, digital trade, connectivity, opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises, climate change, and environmental instability.
Things have changed rapidly since the last time the US hosted such a forum in 2011. This year, the US has chosen to cast a wide net in setting priorities and faces the challenge of bringing a disparate group of countries together on key issues.
While there are a lot of expectations of US leadership, skepticism abounds in equal measure. Another US-led regional initiative, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity, has received a lukewarm response from many in the business and policy communities. APEC provides an opportunity for the US to prove its global economic leadership capabilities.
What are the opportunities for the US to make tangible progress in its host year? What are the challenges it faces?
As APEC members prepare for the November summit, this podcast unpacks the economic and geopolitical factors that may impact its agenda.
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Chapters

1. Special Ep. - Assessing US Objectives for APEC 2023 (00:00:00)

2. In what areas do you think the United States can make tangible progress in its host year, and where do you see things being particularly challenging? (00:04:33)

3. How important is it, Robert, for the U.S. to have more specific deliverables coming out of this, as opposed to just demonstrating leadership on the big stage of APEC? (00:11:50)

4. In terms of deliverables, obviously IPEF has a number of pillars, some of which may be more promising and fruitful in terms of getting to some sort of statement that could be seen as a deliverable, and others not so much. Shihoko, what’s your view? (00:14:17)

5. Do you see any pathway to seeing some kind of collaboration there and expansion around digital trade? I think this modular approach within DEPA is an interesting approach because it does account for changes in technology, changes in standards and so forth (00:17:26)

6. What do you think about the dynamics with China and Russia being part of APEC, but many other countries in the region—predominantly in Southeast Asia—not wanting to take sides in all this? Will the Chinese come in the spirit of “let’s figure out what we c (00:21:26)

7. Shihoko, on the geopolitical overtones of this, what are your views? (00:25:31)

8. What do you think the administration will do to try to move the needle on the labor front? (00:30:51)