Canada and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, established in 1989, has become the pre-eminent economic forum in the Asia-Pacific region. Its primary purpose is to promote sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.

Overview of APEC

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum has become the pre-eminent economic forum in the Asia-Pacific region. Its primary purpose is to promote sustainable economic growth, trade and investment, and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. Every year, one of APEC's 21 member economies serves as the forum host, defining a theme and advancing priorities. In 2025, Korea is the host of APEC, Peru was the APEC host for 2024, and the United States hosted in 2023. This year, Korea’s theme is “Connect. Innovate. Prosper.” The areas they have chosen to focus on are:

1. trade and investment;
2. digital and AI;
3. sustainability and inclusiveness; and
4. economic security and supply chains.

They have advanced three deliverables:

• an APEC AI Initiative;
• a Collaborative Framework for Demographic Changes; and
• a Leaders’ Statement of Cultural and Creative Industries.

APEC aims to strengthen regional economic integration by removing impediments to trade and investment “at the border”, enhancing supply chain connectivity "across the border", and improving the business environment "behind the border”. The goal is to improve the operating environment for business by cutting red tape and other barriers. APEC also helps member economies build institutional capacity to implement trade and investment reforms, while maximizing the resulting benefits. APEC supports the multilateral trade negotiations underway in the World Trade Organization and complements the goals of the G20.

APEC operates through open dialogue and non-binding commitments. Decisions made within APEC are reached by consensus, and commitments are undertaken on a voluntary basis. The APEC Secretariat is based in Singapore and provides coordination, technical and advisory support, as well as information management, communications, and public outreach services.

The word ”economies” is used to describe APEC members because APEC is predominantly concerned with trade and economic issues, with members engaging with one another as economic entities.

Canada and APEC

As a founding member, APEC provides Canada with an opportunity to further strengthen trade and economic ties with some of the Asia-Pacific region's most dynamic economies. APEC also serves as a platform to share best practices with key partners on trade, economic integration, and structural reform.

In 2024, the 21 APEC member economies’ GDP accounted for over 61% of the global GDP. Despite global challenges such as inflation and slowdown in trade, the APEC region saw economic growth of approximately 3.5% in 2024 (according to calculations by APEC).

In 2024, APEC partners accounted for 83% of Canada's total merchandise trade, a rate which grew by 0.9%. APEC economies have consistently accounted for more than half of Canada’s non-U.S. trade over the last decade, and Canada has free trade agreements (FTAs) with 12 of the 20 other APEC economies: Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Republic of Korea, Singapore, U.S., and Vietnam, Five of Canada's top six trading partners are APEC members (U.S., China, Japan, Mexico, and South Korea).

Global Affairs Canada coordinates Canada’s engagement at APEC, with more than 20 Government of Canada partner departments involved in APEC’s broad agenda, ranging from customs procedures and regulatory reform to women’s economic empowerment and just energy transition. In this regard, APEC serves a valuable role as an incubator of ideas and provides Canada with an opportunity to shape the Asia-Pacific region’s trade priorities with an innovative lens. Moreover, Canada’s engagement at APEC is a marker of our commitment to the region and contributes towards our Indo-Pacific Strategy strategic objectives and our overarching priority to be an active and engaged partner in the region.

Why is APEC important to Canada?

The APEC region encompasses economies critical to Canada's future economic prosperity and security interests. It remains the only trans-Pacific regional organization that hosts a leaders-level meeting at which Canada is present.

APEC brings together leaders, ministers, senior officials, and business representatives, who meet regularly to drive forward the APEC agenda and implement policies and projects across a wide range of issues, from trade and investment facilitation to economic cooperation.

APEC allows Canada to further engage in bilateral and multilateral discussions and negotiations in one of the world's largest economic zones, where many of our key trade partners are also members.

Since its inception in 1989, growth has increased significantly in the region, with real GDP increasing from US $19 trillion in 1989 to US $56.9 trillion in 2023 (according to calculations by APEC).

Canada's role in APEC

To ensure that Canadian interests are voiced within the APEC decision-making process, various Government of Canada departments are active in over 35 APEC working groups and committees, from areas such as the “Oceans and Fisheries Working Group” (OFWG), the “Sub-Committee on Standards and Conformance” (SCSC), and the “Competition Policy and Law Group” (CPLG).

APEC's activities have also expanded to include discussion of pressing security issues that involve political threats to economic prosperity and growth in the region. Through APEC, Canada continues to engage key Asia-Pacific partners in countering terrorism, enhancing health, security, infectious disease strategies, and forming global approaches to international energy issues.

History and membership of APEC

APEC was established in response to a growing interdependence among Asia-Pacific economies and the need to advance Asia-Pacific economic growth and sense of community.

In 1989, Australia hosted a meeting of Foreign and Trade Ministers from 12 Asia-Pacific economies to discuss ways to increase cooperation in this rapidly developing region. This was the beginning of APEC. Canada was a founding member, alongside Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and the United States.

In 1993, the United States held the first annual meeting of APEC Leaders. The purpose was to improve commitment to trade liberalization and economic cooperation, develop a spirit of regional community, and promote sustainable growth and equitable development.

Between 1989 and 1993, APEC accepted six new members. In November 1991, three members were welcomed into the organization: the People's Republic of China (PRC); Hong Kong, China; and Chinese Taipei. In November 1993, APEC accepted both Mexico and Papua New Guinea (PNG), and Chile became a full member in November 1994. Peru, Russia, and Vietnam were the latest economies to join the organization in November 1998.

APEC now comprises 21 member economies:

• Australia
• Brunei Darussalam
• Canada
• Chile
• China (PRC)
• Hong Kong, China
• Indonesia
• Japan
• Republic of Korea
• Malaysia
• Mexico
• New Zealand
• Papua New Guinea
• Peru
• the Philippines
• Russia
• Singapore
• Chinese Taipei
• Thailand
• United States
• Vietnam

There are three official observers: the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretariat, the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC), and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).

Private Sector Engagement

Private sector engagement is central to the success of APEC.

The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) represents the interests of the private sector at APEC. ABAC is composed of up to three members from each of the 21 member economies, with business representatives appointed by APEC leaders. Collectively, ABAC members prepare an annual report with recommendations on how to improve the business and investment environment within the Asia-Pacific region.

Canada's representation on the ABAC helps advance Canadian business interests in the Asia-Pacific region. Canada is represented at ABAC by Jan De Silva, corporate director and former President & CEO of the Toronto Region Board of Trade; and Joseph Fung, Managing Partner at Saltagen Ventures. The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada acts as Canada’s ABAC Secretariat.

The annual APEC CEO Summit and regular APEC industry dialogues also provide opportunities for regional business leaders to interact with APEC leaders, global and regional institutions, and business leaders from across the Asia-Pacific to discuss key issues facing the region.

Declarations, statements, news and publications

Declarations, statements and announcements from meetings at the APEC forum

• Leaders’ declarations
• Annual ministerial meetings
• Sectoral ministerial meetings

Official Government of Canada news releases, statements and media advisories related to APEC

APEC publications

The APEC Policy Support Unit is a research and analysis arm for APEC. They undertake research on various topics and synthesize key points into short policy papers to support fora discussions.

• APEC publications