“During the year when the U.S. hosts, we really drive the agenda” – Monica Hardy Whaley, President, National Center for APEC
The 21 member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum have one thing in common: the Pacific Ocean. To be a member of the regional group, founded in 1989, the waves of world’s largest ocean had to lap your shores. The concept was almost romantic, evoking images of naval trade routes and adventures at sea. Chile and China were members; India and Argentina were not. But the goals were clear: greater economic cooperation and trade.
The last time the U.S. was APEC’s annual host, in 2011, that core mission still prevailed as the then Secretary of Trade Hillary Clinton promoted a massive trade proposal known as the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). At the APEC Summit in Honolulu that year, Clinton said she hoped the pact would…
