Current Activities
The 2009 work plan for the APEC REI agenda directs APEC to:
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Examine the various types of preferential rules of origin
used in the APEC region with the aim of increasing knowledge of their
similarities and differences.
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Explore, in close cooperation with the business sector,
how rules of origin used in economies' RTAs/FTAs might be rationalised.
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Expand dialogue on examining ways to achieve greater
consistency in key provisions of RTAs/FTAs in the region.
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Expand and deepen the convergences/divergences study by
adding to the agreements and chaptered covered in 2008.
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Examining the feasibility of enlarging, docking or
merging existing FTAs.
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Conduct analytical work on the economic impact of an
FTAAP and on the specific benefits and challenges for APEC economies
associated with such an agreement.
Friends of the Chair (FOTC) groups on REI set up at both the
CTI and Senior Officials levels will continue to oversee the work on the REI
agenda. The CTI-FOTC will liaise with the relevant sub-fora to help them
prioritise their REI-related work..The CTI-FOTC has agreed to focus its initial
work in 3 areas: rules of origin; convergences and divergences of FTAs; and
docking, merging and enlargement of FTAs.
Capacity building workshops, policy dialogues or symposia
will continue to be conducted at the CTI/CTI sub-forum level, allowing exchanges
between government officials and FTA negotiators on best practice and
strengthening FTAs in the region.