WT/GC/220  
 
12 August 2020  
(20-5546) Page: 1/4 
General Council  Original: English  
 
 
 
 APEC MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR TRADE (MRT)  VIRTUAL MEETING  
JOINT STATEMENT 2020  
25 JULY 2020  
 
The following communication, dated  12 August 2020 , is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of  Malaysia . 
 
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1.1.  We, the Asia -Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) recall 
the APEC MRT Statement on COVID -19 issued on 5 May 2020, and reaffirm our commitment to 
effectively mitigate the economic impact of the COVID -19 pandemic, and promptly navigate the 
region towards a path of resilient, sustainable, inclusive and expedited economic recovery. We 
recognise the efforts being undertaken across the region for the wellbeing of our people and to 
optimise human potential tow ards a resilient future of economic prosperity.  
1.2.  We acknowledge the importance of a free, open, fair, non -discriminatory, transparent and 
predictable trade and investment environment to drive economic recovery at such a challenging 
time. We also note key A PEC work programmes and initiatives that support the WTO 's work. We 
affirm the importance of transparent and non -discriminatory, agreed upon rules in the WTO, which 
enhance market predictability and enable business confidence, as well as allowing trade to flow. 
Recognising the WTO 's role in this regard, we agree that action is necessary to improve its 
functioning,  and support the necessary reform of the WTO. We are committed to ensure that 
emergency measures designed to tackle COVID -19 are targeted, proport ionate, transparent, 
temporary, do not create unnecessary barriers to trade or disruption to global supply chains, and 
are consistent with WTO rules.  
1.3.  We are pleased with the Declaration on Facilitating the Movement of Essential Goods which is 
a clear indi cation of the region 's continued support for WTO work. While we acknowledge that 
Economies may need to implement emergency measures designed to address COVID -19 challenges, 
we reiterate our commitment to work to facilitate the flow of essential goods and s ervices, enhance 
connectivity by strengthening supply chains resilience, and minimise disruptions to trade in medical 
goods, food and agriculture products, in order to fight the pandemic. We also recognise the need for 
discussions to reduce non -tariff barr iers which restrict trade in essential goods. We reaffirm our 
commitment to share and explore ways to facilitate essential movement of people across borders, 
without undermining the efforts to prevent the spread of the virus. To this end, we are encouraged  
by the Proposal to Review Measures Facilitating Essential Movement of People across Borders.  
1.4.  We welcome the work being undertaken by all Economies to pivot APEC efforts towards 
operationalising the APEC MRT Statement on COVID -19, while maintaining the mo mentum on core 
work. We commend the ongoing efforts to establish a coordinated approach to collect and share best 
practises and information on policies and measures undertaken by APEC Economies in response to 
the COVID -19 pandemic. We urge Senior Officials  to prioritise the work in this area with a view to 
establish a digital platform for information exchange and we look forward to an early realisation of 
this platform.  
1.5.  We reiterate our concern about the impact of COVID -19 on vulnerable developing economie s. 
We also recognise the critical need of those most impacted by the COVID -19 pandemic and to 
empower all sectors of the community, including MSMEs, to participate in economic recovery. We WT/GC/220  
 
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  welcome the varied and continued efforts as well as the contributio n of additional resources across 
APEC to combat the pandemic and support workers and sectors through the economic recovery 
process.  
1.6.  We note the recommendations in the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) report on  
COVID -19 on how to mitigate the immediate impact of the pandemic, accelerate economic recovery 
and build resilience in the longer -term, including by pursuing an open market for goods, services 
and investment, supporting MSMEs, and leveraging on digital connectivity. We recognise ABAC 's call 
for APEC to continue supporting the multilateral trading system. We encourage continued 
constructive engagement on WTO issues, inc luding in the lead -up to the 12th WTO Ministerial 
Conference.  
1.7.  We encourage Economies to collaborate and adopt digital solutions that will strengthen supply 
chain resilience as well as enable seamless cross -border business, including through e -commerce. 
In harnessing the opportunities of digital economy, we acknowledge the importance of cooperation 
on facilitating the flow of data and strengthening consumer and business trust in digital transactions.  
1.8.  We direct our Senior Officials to accelerate work towards delivering a concise, relevant, 
meaningful and achievable, Post -2020 Vision. We look forward to the launch of the Post -2020 Vision 
by the Leaders at the end of the year.  
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  ANNEX A  
 
 
DECLARATION ON FACILITATING THE MOVEMENT OF ESSENTIAL G OODS BY THE APEC 
MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR TRADE (MRT)  
We, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade;  
 
Recognising  the importance of ensuring that trade continues to flow during the COVID -19 
pandemic,  
 
Committed  to working together to facilitate the flow of essential goods at this critical time,  
 
Recognising  that it is in our mutual interest to ensure that trade lines  remain open, including via 
air, land and sea freight,  
 
Committed  to a free, open, fair, non -discriminatory, transparent, predictable and stable trade and 
investment environment,  
 
Reiterating  our commitments to respond effectively to the economic consequen ces of the  
COVID -19 pandemic, we hereby declare:  
 
Export Restrictions and Prohibitions  
 
1. Each APEC economy will ensure that any emergency trade measures designed to tackle 
 COVID -19 are consistent with WTO rules.  
 
2. Each APEC economy will ensure that any trade measure introduced in response to COVID -19 
 is notified in accordance with relevant  WTO obligations.  
 
Non-Tariff Barriers  
 
3. APEC economies are encouraged to work together to identify and resolve any unnecessary 
 barriers to trade in essential goods.  
 
Trade Facilitation  
 
4. Each APEC economy, consistent with its obligations under the WT O Agreement on Trade 
 Facilitation, should expedite and facilitate the flow and transit of essential goods.  
 
5. APEC economies remain committed to enhance coordination, efficiency and transparency of 
 the border clearance of essential goods, and full imple mentation of the WTO Agreement on 
 Trade Facilitation, to help facilitate trade.  
 
6. Each APEC economy should endeavour to expedite the release of essential goods upon arrival, 
 including adopting or maintaining procedures allowing for submission of import  documentation 
 and other required information, such as manifests, in order to begin processing prior to the 
 arrival of goods.  
 
7. Each APEC economy will endeavour to facilitate the entry, transit and departure of air cargo 
 containing essential medical s upplies.  
 
8. APEC economies are expected to abide by the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005).  
 
Tariffs  
 
9. APEC economies take note of ABAC 's recommendation for economies to take tariff 
 liberalisation measures for essential medical supplies of w hich some economies have done so 
 unilaterally.  
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  Review Mechanism  
 
10. APEC economies will update the progress of this initiative annually, at the relevant APEC 
 meeting, until such time when COVID -19 is no longer determined to be a public health 
 emergency of international concern.  
 
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