Welcome

The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation or APEC is a regional organization made up of 21 member economies. It is designed to promote co-operation and growth as well as the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment within the Asia-Pacific region. Each year, senior officials (SOM), working through committees, consider proposals and work programs before consideration by trade ministers and APEC leaders. The Philippines hosted APEC in 1996, Canada hosted in 1997, Malaysia in 1998, New Zealand in 1999 and Brunei, Darussalam in 2000, People's Republic of China in 2001, Mexico in 2002, Thailand in 2003, Chile in 2004, Korea in 2005, Viet Nam in 2006, Australia in 2007, Peru in 2008 and Singapore is hosting in 2009.

Within APEC, the Sub-Committee on Customs Procedures (SCCP) manages customs co-operation. The SCCP reports to the Committee on Trade and Investment (CTI) and takes policy direction from the heads of customs of member economies. These people determine the strategic direction for the customs work of APEC. In its Bogor Declaration, APEC has made free trade a centrepiece of its work, and it is relying on customs organizations to put in place the customs framework for liberalized trade.