Achievements

The following activities and projects are being implemented by APEC Fora to support the continued implementation of the e-APEC Strategy.

• The Electronic Commerce Steering Group (ECSG) developed a Data Privacy Pathfinder initiative which will enable stakeholders to work together to better protect private information in the APEC region and build confidence and trust in electronic commerce. The Pathfinder will support business needs, reduce compliance costs, provide consumers with effective remedies, allow regulators to operate efficiently, and minimise regulatory burdens.
• The Committee on Trade and Investment (CTI) prepared the APEC's Second Trade Facilitation Action Plan endorsed by Ministers Responsible for Trade in July 2007. This plan sets out a framework and timetable for achieving a further five per cent reduction in trade transaction costs by 2010. It focuses on customs procedures, standards and conformance, e-commerce and mobility of business people.
• The APEC Sub-Committee on Customs Procedures (SCCP) adopted the SCCP Single Window Strategic Plan and the SCCP Single Window Development Plan in June 2007. The Strategic Plan provides a framework for the development of Single Window systems by members to achieve paperless trading targets and enable seamless data sharing. It contains six recommendations to assist members in this endeavour and provides the mechanisms for APEC members to work collaboratively and agree on various issues where appropriate.
• In Sydney, Ministers agreed to expedite work to support the implementation of international trade "Single Windows" across APEC, with a view to the eventual interoperability of systems through the use of recognised international instruments and standards. "Single Windows" allow businesses involved in trade and transport to electronically submit standardised information and documents at a single entry point to fulfill all import, export and transit-related regulatory requirements.
• APEC Ministers also recognised that the digital capability of APEC member economies is crucial in advancing APEC's work and the equitable development of the region. They welcomed the contribution made by the APEC Digital Opportunity Centre in this regard and encouraged member economies to further cooperate in relevant capacity building activities.

Current Activities

• The CTI continues work on trade and the digital economy as a means to encourage competition, promote efficiency, and spur innovation.  This Committee encourages further participation in the Pathfinder on Technology Choice Principles. It reiterates the importance of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) in promoting trade, jobs and investment in the IT sector and encourages closer cooperation to ensure that duty-free treatment on all ITA-covered products is maintained. 
• Work on developing model measures for as many commonly accepted RTA and FTA chapters as possible is underway in the CTI. Model measures for three additional RTA/FTA chapters, including e-commerce, were developed and adopted in 2007. Model measures have now been developed for 10 RTA/FTA chapters. The aim is to complete this work in 2008
• The Telecommunications and Information Working Group (TEL) continues its efforts to expand collaboration in dealing with issues of electronic security, to build confidence in the use of electronic networks, and to support policy and regulatory reforms that facilitate competition and the expanded reach of networks.
• The Electronic Commerce Steering Group (ECSG) continues relevant work to implement APEC's Strategies and Actions Toward a Cross-Border Paperless Trading Environment to enable the electronic transmission of trade-related information across the region by 2020.

More information can be found from the APEC TEL, APEC's Electronic Commerce Steering Group, Committee on Trade and Investment and APEC Sub-Committee on Customs Procedures (SCCP).