APEC
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum is the premier forum for supporting economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region. The 21 APEC Member Economies represent over 40 per cent of the world’s population, approximately 54 per cent of global GDP and abput 44 per cent of world trade. Domestically, APEC economies account for over 68 per cent of Australia’s trade, almost 40 per cent of inward investment and comprise eight of our top 10 export markets. The fisheries industry sector in APEC member economies presently accounts for over 75 per cent of the world’s capture fisheries and over 90 per cent of the world aquaculture production.
Within APEC, DAFF is responsible for issues relating to agricultural and food policy, quarantine, fisheries, and agricultural aspects of biosecurity and biotechnology, through participation in three APEC fora:
Agricultural Technical Cooperation Working Group (ATCWG) - aims to improve economic development and social welfare in the APEC region by promoting agricultural technical cooperation between APEC member economies. The ATCWG addresses environmental sustainability; productivity and diversification; biotechnology; regulatory cooperation, including plant and animal quarantine issues; and structural adjustment in the agricultural sector.
Fisheries Working Group (FWG) - addresses key fisheries issues for the region across the broad themes of fisheries management, aquaculture and trade. Activities underway support progress on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, implementation of the Bali Plan of Action, developing ecosystem-based approaches to fisheries management, the impacts of climate change, sustainable aquaculture development; and enhancement of food safety and quality of fish and fisheries products.
High Level Policy Dialogue on Agricultural Biotechnology (HLPDAB) - provides an opportunity to promote public policy development to support the responsible use of agricultural biotechnology. The HLPDAB addresses a range of issues including regulatory harmonisation, technical approaches to global challenges, the public perception of biotechnology and legal considerations related to the use of agricultural biotechnology.
Information on these fora is available on the APEC website.
For further information, please contact:
Ms Madeleine Baldwin
Multilateral Trade
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Switchboard: +61 2 6272 3933
Fax: +61 2 6272 4600