Asia-Pacific

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established in 1967 with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration by Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Since then, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, and Cambodia joined, making up what is today the 10 member states of ASEAN.

The ASEAN Vision 2020, adopted by the ASEAN leaders on the 30th anniversary of ASEAN, agreed on a shared vision of ASEAN as a concert of Southeast Asian nations and an agreement to become an economic union by 2020. The agreement sets deadlines for lowering travel restrictions and tariffs in the region of 500 million people.

In 2012, US export to ASEAN totaled almost $76 billion. California exports totaled $11.7 billion, approximately 15 percent of all US exports to ASEAN.

The APEC forum was formed in 1989. It serves as a multilateral forum in which Asian and Pacific economies can solve economic problems and cooperate in developing key economic sectors.

The APEC economies are: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Republic of the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United States and Vietnam.

See CalChamber's APEC Trade Issues Page for further information

Trans - Pacific Partnership Agreement

Additional Information:

• Tiny Island Country Opens North County Consulate
  San Diego Union Tribune, Oct. 2012
• Statement at the Conclusion of the 2011 Article IV Mission to Myanmar
  International Monetary Fund, January 2012
• Berkeley APEC Study Center
• Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center of Stanford
• A SITE SELECTION INVESTMENT PROFILE: MALAYSIA
  From Site Selection magazine, September 2011