The Enhanced APEC Agenda for Structural Reform

EAASR includes both APEC-wide and economy level activities.  Member economy report on the latter in their Individual Action Plans (IAPs). 

The EAASR encourages economies to undertake robust, comprehensive, and ambitious structural reforms to stimulate growth, remove undue burdens on investors and businesses in their economies, achieve greater economic resilience and promote wellbeing.

The Economic Committee (EC) reports to Senior Officials on progress of implementing the EAASR.

A mid term review of the EAASR was held in 2023.  The report is the review is here Enhanced APEC Agenda for Structural Reform (EAASR) Mid-Term Review Report | APEC

A meeting was held in August 2023 in Seattle to discuss the findings.

The APEC Policy Support Unit presented key messages from the Review.

The meeting also included comments from business (via the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC)) and from the OECD, a session showcasing IAPs, a discussion of emerging issues in structural reform and break-out group activities on the treatment of special topics such as services, gender, and sustainability.

The IAPs also provide an opportunity for economies to report on their structural reform activities that are relevant for services firms.  This reporting is a key link between services and structural reform.  The Review found that IAPs did refer to services sector issues, but not always explicitly.  The Review proposed that given that the reforms and actions under these (EAASR) initiatives often also benefit the services sector, economies are encouraged to ensure that this is reflected in their EAASR reporting. Members are also encouraged to include at least one initiative directly related to the services sector in their IAPs in any future updates.