August 20th, 2017, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam – Eight APEC fora held meetings today, including the Committee on Trade and Investment (CTI), Sub-Committee on Customs Procedures (SCCP), Sub-Committee on Standards and Conformance (SCSC), Life Sciences Innovation Forum (LSIF), Anti-Corruption and Transparency Experts’ Working Group (ACTWG), Electronic Commerce Steering Group (ECSG) – Data Privacy Subgroup (DPS), Experts Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade (EGILAT), andAutomotive Dialogue (AD).
Following the first meeting yesterday, the ACTWG focused on discussing topics related to wildlife trafficking, including two main issues, namely new momentum for combating corruption and ways to detect and disrupt wildlife trafficking using anti-money laundering and asset confiscation techniques. Participants also suggested potential solutions for international cooperation protocols or mutual assistance in combating wildlife trafficking.
The SCCP continued its second day in its three-day-meeting. Delegates shared experiences on applying technology to risk management systems as well as intellectual property law in the rapidly evolving e-commerce landscape. Customs cooperation between APEC member economies and between SCCP and other APEC Fora were also reviewed in the meeting.
Building on the results of Workshops on “The Impact of Government Policy Instruments on Promoting New Energy Vehicles” and “Implementing the APEC Electric Vehicles Roadmap”, the AD meeting today focused on market approach and problems related to the automotive market, in particular, the harmonization of standards and regulations and access to the automotive market.
In the meanwhile, participants in the Data Privacy Subgroup’s meeting discussed on the Cross Border Privacy Rules (CBPR) System, shared outcomes from the implementation of CBPR and agreed on enhancing information sharing among CBPR members. Besides, members provided an update of the APEC’s Privacy Framework as well as progress of the subgroup’s work plan. An overview of the Cross-Border Privacy Enforcement Arrangement (CPEA) and its benefits was also made.
The CTI held a Workshop on Strengthening Transparency and Participation in the Processes of Negotiation of Trade Agreements. This project aims to promote a better understanding of existing FTAs/RTAs in the region, so as to facilitate the construction of a wide support base that enable FTAs/RTAs to achieve greater public approval and create greater benefits from regional economic integration.
The SCSC hosted the 22nd Joint Regulatory Advisory Committee on Electrical and Electric Equipment, where member economies provided update on the Mutual recognition arrangement on conformity assessment of electrical and electronic equipment. Other topics include gender equality in standardization and risks to children occurring from LiPo battery powered equipment. Also under SCSC, the 10th Conference on Good Regulatory Practices completed its second day of work.
The EGILAT held its plenary session today. Participants shared best practices and experiences in combating illegal logging and promoting trade in legal forest products. Member economies also provided update on the implementation of the EGILAT Work Plan for 2017 and discussed EGILAT Multi-Year Strategic Plan 2018 – 2022, which seek to further reduce levels of illegal logging and associated trade and promote trade in legally harvested forest products, and thereby contribute to APEC’s primary goal to support sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.
The LSIF also held its Planning Group meeting. The LSIF, established in 2002, brings together scientific, health, trade, economic and financial considerations to address the challenges such as infectious and chronic disease and ageing populations. It is APEC’s leading initiative on health and health sciences innovation.
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