REPUBLIA, JAKARTA -- JAKARTA -- APEC senior officials have been meeting on Monday and Tuesday in Beijing to determine the priorities for APEC China 2014, just after the World Trade Organization (WTO) found consensus this weekend in Bali, while Trans Pacific Partnership negotiators are seeking an agreement in Singapore. Officials of APEC, a region that accounts for more almost half of world trade, are studying new opportunities and challenges, including new areas of growth and economic reform for the region.

Importantly, they will look at the role APEC will play within the context of the newly agreed Bali Package and regional trade agreements. Senior Officials are discussing the progress negotiators are making to seek a conclusion to the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) and the rise of multilateral agreements.

“Just a few months ago in Bali, every leader from APEC said that they wanted DDA to succeed,” Executive Director of APEC, Allan Bollard in a written statement on Tuesday.

At APEC Meeting in Bali two months ago, Leaders acknowledged in a statement the urgency to achieve successful outcomes at WTO’s 9th Ministerial Conference. They also reaffirmed their commitment to build on Bali package to achieve the full conclusion of DDA and to continue negotiations to address remaining DDA issues post-Bali.

“So, now we are looking at not just bilateral, not just regional, but mega-regional and how well designed they are. Based on developments last week in Bali, new kind of approach may be required to enhance the ultimate chances of success,” Bollard said.

To bring benefits to private sectors, he hopes WTO may consider expanding on sectoral agreements like those addressing information technology and services like APEC has done. APEC Leaders called for a swift conclusion to expand WTO Information Technology Agreement and to explore opportunities in WTO to build on APEC commitment to reduce tariffs on APEC List of Environmental Goods.

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