NUSA DUA, Indonesia, (PNA/Kyodo) — The following is the gist of the joint statement adopted Saturday by the trade and foreign ministers of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum at their meeting in Bali, Indonesia.
The ministers:
— reaffirm commitment to achieve Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific.
— agree to enhance communication among regional trade agreements and free trade agreements.
— reaffirm commitment to attaining the Bogor Goals for liberalizing trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region by 2020.
— recommend leaders extend by one year through 2016 a standstill commitment to refrain from taking new protectionist measures.
— reiterate resolve to achieve successful outcomes at the ninth World Trade Organization ministerial meeting in Bali in December.
— encourage swift conclusion of talks to expand the scope of products covered by the WTO’s Information Technology Agreement on tariff eliminations.