An advisory panel to Asian and Pacific leaders is set to urge further trade liberalization and the launch of a new round of trade talks under the World Trade Organization in November, according to a draft of the panel's annual report.
The draft was compiled by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum's Business Advisory Council (ABAC), the official business-sector voice of APEC's 21 member economies.
"APEC economies must accelerate progress toward trade and investment liberalization as stated in the Bogor goals. We encourage leaders to instill the necessary sense of urgency and commitment to fully liberalize trade and investment in accordance with the Bogor goals," it says.