Press Release
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For Immediate Release |
Contact: (202) 225-3965 |
| REPRESENTATIVES CROWLEY, BRADY, LARSEN, AND HERGER RE-LAUNCH APEC CAUCUS FOR 111th Congress |
| Washington, D.C. — Representatives Joseph Crowley, Kevin Brady, Rick Larsen, and Wally Herger re-introduced the House Caucus for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation to the 111th Congress. Originally formed last November, the APEC Caucus is designed to work with APEC officials and interested stakeholders on issues affecting U.S. interests in the Asia-Pacific region, including trade, energy, finance and investment, climate change, agriculture, intellectual property rights, food safety, and corporate social responsibility. Representative Crowley noted that “the United States will host the APEC Leaders Meeting and other Ministerial meetings in 2011, creating an important opportunity for U.S. business, workers, and policymakers.” “Greater U.S. engagement in the fast-growing Asia-Pacific region is critical if we are to remain globally competitive, and APEC is a key forum,” said Representative Brady. Representative Rick Larsen indicated that once established, the Caucus plans to meet regularly with policymakers, political leaders, academics, and business leaders to discuss the goals and priorities of APEC. “We plan to help drive active U.S. participation in APEC and development of a robust agenda for 2011,” he said. “The House APEC Caucus will be an important part of educating the Congress, the Administration, and the general public about the importance of playing a more significant role in economic matters in the Asia-Pacific region,” said Representative Herger. Background on Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Under the APEC structure, twenty-one of the world’s leading economies, including the United States, China, Japan, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Singapore and others, come together to facilitate economic growth and shared strategic objectives. Membership includes more than two-thirds of the world’s population and accounts for over 50 percent of global trade. The trans-Pacific nature of APEC bridges the Americas and Asia, and it is the only regional forum that formally acknowledges the integral economic linkage between the two hemispheres. APEC’s Annual Leaders’ Meeting brings together world leaders to address bilateral issues, as well as collectively tackle some of the world’s most pressing economic, energy, and security challenges. APEC’s unique structure – a diverse spectrum of ministerial meetings and official networks leading up to an annual Summit or “Leaders’ Meeting” – enables pursuit of a very broad agenda. Macro level topics – trade and investment; energy and climate change; food supply; security; disaster readiness – are all addressed at a region-wide level. The U.S. will host APEC in 2011. ### |