Did you know that nearly half of the world’s trade moves through the Asia-Pacific? That your blueberries in January, the anime you stream, and your kid’s hockey gear are all part of a system quietly shaped by economies as varied as Chile, Japan, Mexico, Korea and Vietnam?

Listen as host Marwa Abdou peels back the layers on the forum that keeps much of that world running smoothly: APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation). It isn’t a trade deal or a bloc — it’s a voluntary sandbox where 21 economies test ideas, build trust and scale what works.

In this extended episode, Marwa is joined by Eduardo Pedrosa, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, and Carlos Kuriyama, Director of APEC’s Policy Support Unit. Together, they explain how non-binding cooperation can deliver real outcomes — from single-window customs and cross-border privacy rules to AI guardrails to greener supply chains to pathways that help informal and micro firms step into the formal economy. They also dive into APEC’s new focus on the creative economy, and why digital trust is now part of trade infrastructure.

For a trade-heavy country like Canada, this is more than theory — it’s jobs, competitiveness and inclusive growth. The question isn’t whether rules will be written, it’s whether we’ll help write them.

Links
- Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
- APEC publications & policy briefs
- APEC Internet & Digital Economy Roadmap (AIDER)
- Global Cross-Border Privacy Rules (CBPR) Forum
- Lima Roadmap to Promote the Transition to the Formal and Global Economies (2025-2040)
- APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040
- APEC Environmental Goods List (54 items)