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Economic Committee |
The Economic Committee (EC) has a mandate to promote structural reform within APEC by undertaking policy analysis and action-oriented work. The EC progresses this mandate in close coordination with other relevant APEC fora; for instance, the Strengthening Economic and Legal Infrastructure (SELI) group, the Competition Policy and Deregulation Group (CPDG) and the Finance Ministers' Process (FMP).
As tariffs have declined in the APEC region, attention has gradually shifted to the structural and regulatory obstacles that inhibit cross-border trade and investment by creating behind-the-border barriers to doing business. Structural reform consists of improvements made to institutional frameworks, regulations and government policies so that the efficient functioning of markets is supported, and behind-the-border barriers are reduced.
The Economic Committee was established at the 6th APEC Ministerial Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia in November 1994.
Achievements
In 2007, APEC Leaders endorsed a detailed, parallel and policy-oriented Forward Work Program for LAISR (Leaders' Agenda to Implement Structural Reform), under the five policy areas of regulatory reform, competition policy, public sector governance, corporate governance, and strengthening economic and legal infrastructure. This work program will be progressively implemented from 2007 to 2010.
The EC has progressed its structural reform work program for 2007 by undertaking the following initiatives:
- A Seminar on Priorities in Structural Reform in APEC Economies held in January 2007. The aim of this seminar was to understand the domestic and common regional priorities in structural reform across APEC member economies, to help clarify the focus of the EC's detailed work program which is consistent with LAISR and also to provide a basis for assessments of capacity building needs in member economies. This seminar also involved a discussion of structural reform challenges based on member economies' experience.
- A Seminar on the Role of Competition Policy in Structural Reform held in 27 June 2007. The seminar was aimed at sharing knowledge, experiences and lessons on competition policy, and to discuss and identify the importance of competition policy in the context of structural reform.
- Self-assessment by Australia and Korea using the APEC-OECD Integrated Checklist on Regulatory Reform and subsequent sharing of the experiences from the self-assessment.
- The 2007 APEC Economic Policy Report, released at the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting (AELM) in Sydney in September 2007. This publication explores a range of generalized and high-level principles for good public sector governance, and considers of how institutions can be used to support the structural reform process.
- A policy discussion on how to create a competition culture within economies.
Current Activities
The EC's current and planned activities for 2008 include:
- The 2008 APEC Economic Policy Report, which will focus on competition policy.
- A workshop on e-governance, aimed at raising awareness among member economies of the role of ICT as an enabler for good pubic sector governance.
- A workshop on government performance and results management, aimed at sharing best practices in planning and setting objectives for government agencies, monitoring and measuring the progress of agencies, and performance evaluation.
- A Seminar on Best Practices in Regulation and Promotion of Efficiency in Transport Infrastructure Facilities, aimed at facilitating information sharing on regulatory and competition policy experiences in transport infrastructure among APEC member economies. The seminar will help identify, evaluate, apply and improve best practices in regulation and promotion of efficiency in transport infrastructure in the region.
Economic Committee (EC) - Key Contacts
Chair
Prof. Robert Buckle
Principal Advisor
The Treasury
P.O. Box 3724
1 The Terrace
Wellington
New Zealand
Tel: (64 4) 917 6252
Fax: (64 4) 499 0992
Email: bob.buckle@treasury.govt.nz
APEC Secretariat
Ms. Susan J Coles
Director (Program)
E-mail: sjc@apec.org