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Policy Support Unit

Mission and objectives
Rigorous research and analysis is a vital input for quality decision-making. The APEC Policy Support Unit (PSU) improves the quality of APEC's deliberations and decisions by providing APEC members and fora with professional and tailor-made research, analysis, policy support and evidence-based policy suggestions.

The PSU mandate covers a broad range of APEC's activities. At present the focus is on economic structural reform, supply chain connectivity, trade and investment.

Current work includes:

  • measuring the benefits of structural reform in the APEC region to consumers and small businesses
  • examining improvements in supply chain connectivity across the APEC region
  • conducting empirical research to measure the benefits of trade facilitation among APEC members.
  • researching how to improve market structure, regulatory, infrastructure and distribution systems relating to food in the APEC region
  • providing policy inputs and analytical research to support APEC's discussions
  • maintaining a database of APEC economic indicators to improve understanding of the integration between APEC economies and the world, and of the region's contribution to the global economy

The PSU is also building relationships with other international organisations to recognise and complement their work, and is pursuing opportunities to undertake joint research and analysis.Providing APEC members with additional data resources and expanding the body of APEC-specific research will provide APEC with an analytical foundation for its agenda.

A comprehensive listing of PSU work, completed and in progress, is available on the PSU Research page.

Assistance to stakeholders
The PSU is always looking for opportunities to assist members and fora. It can:
  • undertake detailed research on various topics and synthesise the key points into short, digestible policy papers and presentations to support fora discussions
  • provide members and fora with access to greater levels of data and commentary about economic issues within APEC
  • support members and fora in designing robust, effective initiatives with measurable outcomes
  • carry out initiatives on behalf of APEC fora, marshalling internal and external expertise as necessary.
To find out more about how the PSU can help, contact us directly.
How the PSU operates
Formal proposals for work or requests for assistance can come from APEC fora and APEC members. The PSU can assist members and fora in the design of their proposals and is happy to discuss proposals prior to being presented formally. The PSU also proposes work itself to help APEC implement its priorities.
Before the PSU undertakes a project it must be approved by the PSU Board. Decisions take into account APEC's agenda and priorities and the resource implications for the PSU. The PSU prides itself on rigorous, objective analysis with evidence-based conclusions. While the Board sets the work program and the PSU complies with APEC's publications policies, the PSU staff retain responsibility for research conclusions.
Governance structure
The PSU is overseen by a Board and is headed by the PSU Director. The Board, on behalf of APEC Senior Officials, provides strategic guidance to the PSU. It comprises representatives from the current, immediate past and incoming APEC host economy and from each major donor. The PSU Director, the APEC Secretariat Executive Director, and the Chairs of the Committee on Trade and Investment, the Economic Committee and the Senior Finance Officials' Meeting attend Board meetings in an ex-officio capacity. Other Chairs of APEC fora can be co-opted as appropriate. The Chair of the Board is the host economy's Senior Official Chair. The representative of the next host economy is the Vice-Chair.
The PSU Governance Arrangements are available here. The PSU Annual Reports are available here.