The Summary Result of the APEC Workshop "Increasing FTA Utilization by SMEs"

1. In recent years, the role of SMEs has become more and more important in promoting economic growth and innovation in the Asia-Pacific region. In light of this, expanding trade and investment of SMEs and further vitalizing their international business activities are recognized as a major and common issue in the Asia-Pacific region.
2. Considering such circumstances, at the Joint Meeting of APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade and Small and Medium Enterprises held in the State of Montana, U.S., in May 2011, APEC member economies agreed to identify barriers that SMEs confront in promoting international trade, such as those concerning the increase of their FTA utilization and protection of intellectual property rights, and to strengthen efforts to eliminate the barriers actively and concretely.
3. Based on this agreement, with the aim of increasing FTA utilization of SMEs, the workshop was held inviting experts from APEC's 21 economies and the APEC secretariat. At this workshop, participants shared best practices in policies for increasing FTA utilization by SMEs (creation of websites targeting SMEs and implementation of corporate education programs, etc.) introduced by officials in charge of policies representing the governments of the Republic of Korea, Peru, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, etc., in addition to Japan.
4. Furthermore, participants shared opinions provided by researchers and experts in the field of international economics, SME associations, and Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the respective countries, with regard to problems to be dealt with for increasing FTA utilization by SMEs (enhancement of the understanding of FTA rules and easing of utilization procedures, etc.).
5. They also shared the awareness that in order to increase FTA utilization by SMEs, it is important to make efforts for realizing a wide-area FTA (FTAAP) and promoting global business activities of SMEs, and at the same time to discuss cooperation and rules for achieving that goal.
6. The outcome of this meeting will be reported at the next APEC meetings to be held in this year or next year.

Date:

August 7, 2012, 13:00-18:00

Venue:

International Conference Hall, 7th Floor of the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Organizer:

The workshop was organized by Japan as an official APEC Workshop.

See the Appendix (in Japanese)

* Documents distributed in the Workshop are available from the following website:
http://www.meti.go.jp/policy/trade_policy/apec/about/news.html

Mr. Ken Sasaji, Director, APEC Office, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, delivering an opening keynote address

Workshop/Overview

Mr. Tadaatsu Mohri, Director, APEC Division, Economic Affairs Bureas, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, serving as a facilitator

Dr. Shujiro Urata, Professor of Economics, Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University

Dr. Ganeshan Wignaraja, Director of Research, Asian Development Bank Institute

Mr. Samuel Scoles, Regional Director Asia, International Trade Advisory Services, White and Case Pte. Ltd

Ms. Lim Bee Suan, Divisional Director, Free Trade Agreement and Representative Office Division, Trade Services and Policy Division, International Enterprise Singapore

Questions and answers between speakers and participants in the session

Mr. Young-Dal Lee, Deputy Director, FTA Implementation Department, Korean Customs Service, Korea

Ms. Paula Carrion, Manager, Market Intelligence Coordination Division, Direction for Export Promotion, Commission on the Promotion of Peru for export and tourism, Peru

Mr. Tran Ba Cuong, Director, WTO Division, Multilateral Trade Policy Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Viet nam

Mr. Tae-Wan Kim, Director, FTA Industrial Support Division, Ministry of Strategy and Finance, Korea

Mr. Senen M. Perlada, Director, Bureau of Export Trade Promotion, Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines

Mr. Pitak Udomwichaiwat, Director of Bureau of Trade Preference, Department of Foreign Trade, Thailand

Speakers and participants discussing at the workshop

Mr. Hidehiro Okayama, Project Manager for Economic Affairs, International Division, Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Mr. Samuel H. Kidder, Executive Director, American Chamber of Commerce in Japan

Mr. Yoshiaki Muto, Partner, Baker & McKenzie GJBJ

Mr. Wilf Wakely, President, Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan

Mr. Hiroshi Hiraizumi, Director for FTA/EPA Negotiation, Economic Partnership Division, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan, serving as a facilitator and delivering a closing address

• PDF file of the news release
  The Summary Result of the APEC Workshop "Increasing FTA Utilization by SMEs"(PDF:492KB)

August 9, 2012

APEC Office, Trade Policy Bureau