APEC Canada 1997

APEC Canada 1997 was a series of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings focused on economic cooperation, held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on 24–25 November 1997. It was the fifth APEC meeting in history, and the second held in the Americas. Though discussions also involved the admission of Peru, Russia, and Vietnam into the organization (as of 2010, these countries remained APEC's newest members), the meeting focused on development in Asia-Pacific countries, and its implications for the world's economy. The role of the IMF was also discussed, as was the need to strengthen global cooperation with respect to economic activity (EVSL initiative - tariffs), customs procedures, and emergencies.^[1] 47% of world trade is done by APEC members.^[2] The first day of the meeting was November 24, 1997.

APEC Canada 1997
Host country	Canada
Date	24–25 November
Venue(s)	Museum of Anthropology at UBC Vancouver, British Columbia
Follows	1996
Precedes	1998

History

The organization first met as a forum in 1989, in an informal meeting meant to facilitate dialogue between member nations (originally 12 including 3 G8 countries). It was intended to liberalize international trade. APEC's three pillars were delineated at the 1995 meeting in Japan.^[2]

Expansion

Three new members Russia, Peru and Vietnam, were admitted under a ten-year integration initiative (a decision agreed in 1997 but not converted into formal admission for the new members until 1998).^[3] The most recent additions prior to this had been those of Mexico, Papua New Guinea, and Chile in 1991.^[2]

1997 was also the year Russia entered the G7, creating the G8.

Purpose and goals

The group ratified a tariff reduction initiative called early voluntary sectoral liberalization (EVSL), which aimed to lower tariffs across 15 economic sectors; the process regarded nine of these as priority areas.^[2]

Goals were set regarding financial stability and how it could be achieved through a stronger and more relevant International Monetary Fund. Customs procedures were also discussed, with the goal of improving clearances by 2000.^[4]

Criticism

An APEC report, compiled by inquiry commissioner Ted Hughes and including testimonies from over 150 witnesses, concluded that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police used excessive force on protesters during the meeting.^[5]

Attendees

Attendees at the 1997 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting
Country	Position	Name
Australia	Prime Minister	John Howard[6]
Brunei	Sultan	Hassanal Bolkiah[7]
Canada	Prime Minister	Jean Chrétien[6]
Chile	President	Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle[6]
China	President	Jiang Zemin[8]
Hong Kong	Chief Executive	Tung Chee-Hwa[6]
Indonesia	President	Suharto [9]
Japan	Prime Minister	Ryutaro Hashimoto[8]
South Korea	President	Kim Young Sam[8]
Malaysia	Prime Minister	Mahathir Mohamad[6]
Mexico	President	Ernesto Zedillo[6]
New Zealand	Prime Minister	Jim Bolger[6]
Papua New Guinea	Prime Minister	Bill Skate[6]
Philippines	President	Fidel Ramos[6]
Singapore	Prime Minister	Goh Chok Tong[6]
Chinese Taipei	Special Representative	Koo Chen-fu[6]
Thailand	Prime Minister	Chuan Leekpai[6]
United States	President	Bill Clinton[8]

See also

• Excessive use of force at the 1997 APEC Summit
• APEC Peru 2008

References

1. "APEC 1997 Summit - Vancouver, Canada". Archived from the original on 2012-09-03. Retrieved 2010-11-29.
2. "CBC News Indepth:APEC". 2004-11-19. Archived from the original on November 24, 2010.
3. "APEC 2001 in China". 2001.
4. "APEC and the 1997 Summit in Vancouver". December 1997.
5. "RCMP slammed in APEC report". CBC News. 2001-08-07. Archived from the original on October 26, 2009.
6. "1996 Economy Representatives". APEC.
7. Gavilan, Dodesz (14 November 2015). "APEC Look back: Where were 2015 APEC world leaders in 1996?". Rappler. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
8. "Clinton arrives in Philippines for trade summit". CNN. 23 November 1996. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
9. "Senators write Clinton on APEC 1996".

Preceded by APEC Philippines 1996

APEC meetings 1997

Succeeded by APEC Malaysia 1998