2024/MRT/JMS - Joint Ministerial Statement – Ministers Responsible

We welcomed the participation in the meeting of the Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC), and the APEC Secretariat. [...] We recognize the positive role that plurilateral discussions and negotiations in the WTO are playing in advancing issues of interest and welcome the conclusion of the text of the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement by its participants, and call for its early incorporation into the WTO legal framework. [...] We remain committed to accelerate the implementation of the WTO's Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) and to continuously strive to improve its application; welcome the conclusion of the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement at the WTO; and note the necessity to update APEC’s initiative on investment to promote investment facilitation in line with Aotearoa Plan of Action. [...] To this end, we commend the ongoing work undertaken by the Committee on Trade and Investment and APEC Policy Support Unit on the Mid-term Review of the SCFAP III to assess the progress made in the implementation of policy practices for each chokepoint. [...] To further advance the ASCR objective of ensuring an open and predictable environment for access to services markets and increasing the share of services exports from APEC economies, and recognizing the importance of services and collaborative efforts for achieving sustainable economic growth, we encourage the Group on Services (GOS) to further its work related to enhancing trade in environmental.