APEC Trade Ministers Issue Joint Statement

Trade ministers from the 21 APEC member economies met in Jeju, Republic of Korea, for the annual APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting, chaired by Korean Minister of Trade Cheong Inkyo.

The meeting concluded with the issuance of a joint statement, reaffirming the commitment to addressing economic challenges facing the region and to creating a more resilient and prosperous Asia-Pacific through strengthened economic cooperation.

The joint statement underscores APEC’s recognition of the importance of the World Trade Organization (WTO), commitment to advancing digital transformation and promotion of the prosperity through sustainable trade.

Ministers emphasized the importance of APEC as the premier forum for regional economic cooperation and recognized its role in bringing economies together to address the economic challenges facing the region. They also recognized the importance of the WTO and the need for meaningful, necessary and comprehensive reform to improve all its functions.

Ministers also discussed the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in trade facilitation, opportunities for deeper economic integration including through the work on Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) agenda and the importance of sustainable supply chains.

The meeting in Jeju reflects APEC’s ongoing efforts to respond to global uncertainties with practical cooperation and forward-looking policy coordination.

Read the 2025 APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Joint Statement

Also read the 2025 APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Statement of the Chair