Singapore, Singapore - United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk arrived in Singapore today for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ministerial meeting to be held this week. While in Singapore, Kirk will meet multilaterally and bilaterally with trade ministers from America's 20 APEC partner economies, as well as with American congressional and business leaders visiting Singapore this week for APEC events. Topics to be discussed include strengthening the global trading system and accelerating economic integration across the Asia-Pacific region.
"From a trade perspective, engagement in the Asia-Pacific region is vital to the increase of American exports and the creation of well-paid jobs here at home," said Kirk. "To sustain and create American jobs in the next decades, we must gain further access now to Asia-Pacific markets for our workers, farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, and producers."
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum has been instrumental in promoting regional and global trade and investment since it was founded in 1989. Trade among the 21 APEC economies represents nearly 45 percent of global trade, and nearly 50 percent of global GDP. The United States will host APEC in 2011.
