U.S. Interests and Asia-Pacific Cooperation

As APEC provides venue for exploiting trade and investment gains in an integrated market, it allows the U.S. to strengthen its ties with the world’s dynamic economies and creates a global policy environment that promotes liberalization. Despite the tremendous benefits, however, the American public knows little about APEC. This paper argues that the United States has a vital stake in APEC. It also outlines the challenges the cooperation will face in the future despite good performance over the past eight years.