Tai Calls for Creative Thinking on APEP

Countries participating in the US-led Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity, must “think creatively and outside the box,” US Trade Representative Katherine Tai told her counterparts at the opening of a meeting of APEP trade ministers in Quito yesterday.

Less than a year after APEP was created, real progress is being made, she sai.

“Our countries already have deep trade and economic relationships, based on long-standing agreements and preference programs. And yet, we are all here because we know our trade relationships can be so much more.

We need to think creatively and outside the box, so that our work enables our people to not only overcome today’s challenges but also seize tomorrow’s opportunities. That is exactly what we are doing through the Americas Partnership, and specifically through the Trade Track.”

She cited the work being done to ensure all people benefit from trade through the Inclusive Trade and SMEs Committee.

Inclusion

“If we want our trade policies to work for our people, we need to make sure that smaller

companies and their workers are at the table. We need to make sure that more people – especially those that have been historically left out of trade discussions – not only have a seat at the table but that their priorities are reflected in our work.”

Other work underway in the Trade Track includes advancing strong labor standards, tackling the climate crisis and providing greater opportunities for SMEs to trade within the hemisphere through improved trade facilitation measures and promoting the use of digital signatures.

“We have a real opportunity to work together on issues of common interest that affect our hemisphere and our people. This includes focusing more on empowering workers and driving a race to the top for our shared planet,” she said.

“We know this will not be easy. But I am confident that, together, we can create something truly unique and lasting that will benefit our people in the long run.”