Asia-Pacific ministers eye huge free trade area
Updated: 2010-11-11 13:08
(Agencies)
YOKOHAMA, Japan - Asia-Pacific trade and foreign ministers on Thursday urged economies in the world's fastest growing region to avoid protectionism and pledged to work toward creating a vast free trade area.
|
APEC leaders meet in Yokohama at the weekend, immediately after the Seoul G20 summit.
The APEC ministers urged members to avoid taking new protectionist steps until the end of 2013 and urged wrapping up the Doha round of free trade talks by the end of next year.
"Open markets are vital for growth and job creation, enabling strong and sustainable growth in this region," they said in a statement.
"While (the) world economy is on its way to recovery, however, there remains a possibility of increasing protectionist pressures in the future."
The APEC ministers also championed a regional strategy of balanced and sustainable growth, an elusive goal at a time when the global economy is divided between cash-rich exporters and debt-burdened importers.
They said they would take concrete steps to create a vast Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) in the region, home to 40 percent of the world's population and 53 percent of global economic output, by building on exising pacts.
Businesses have long urged a single pact for the Pacific rim to simplify a plethora of standards and rules.
Paper's Digest
China bags Asiad team tennis title after 24 yrs
Wimbledon semifinalist Li Na led host China to capture the team tennis title on Tuesday at the Asian Games, accomplishing her Asiad tour with three consecutive victories.
China rate rises no panacea to curb inflation: PBOC adviser
Specials
Russian possessed with TCM
Born into a family of doctors, Maxime became interested in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) at the age of 12, after hearing about TCM theories such as health preservation and recuperation.
Acupuncture takes stab at UNESCO list
Acupuncture and Peking Opera have been selected as candidates for UNESCO intangible cultural heritage status.
The wedding coach comes back to life
A groom carries his bride from a wedding coach in Xuchang, Henan province, Nov 11, 2010. Produced a local factory, various original hand-made wedding carriages were displayed on the streets, attracting young people chasing fashion and an environment-friendly lifestyle.