I 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4830 

To direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to obtain membership 

status for India in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 22, 2016 

Mr. SALMON (for himself, Mr. BERA, Mr. ROYCE, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. SHERMAN, 

Mr. HOLDING, Mr. KILMER, Mr. ROHRABACHER, and Mr. DESJARLAIS) 

introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 

Foreign Affairs 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to 

obtain membership status for India in the Asia-Pacific 

Economic Cooperation (APEC), and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. PARTICIPATION OF INDIA IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC 

4 ECONOMIC COOPERATION REGIONAL ECO5 NOMIC FORUM. 

6 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 


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1 (1) The Republic of India is the world’s ninth 

2 largest economy in nominal terms and the third 

3 largest economy based on purchasing-power parity. 

4 (2) The United States-India partnership is vital 

5 to United States strategic interests in the Asia-Pa6 cific region and across the globe, and is an integral 

7 aspect to the Administration’s Rebalance to Asia. 

8 (3) United States-India bilateral trade and in9 vestment continue to expand, supporting thousands 

10 of United States jobs. 

11 (4) The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation 

12 (APEC) regional economic forum is the premier 

13 Asia-Pacific economic forum with a goal to support 

14 sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the 

15 Asia-Pacific region. 

16 (5) APEC works to champion free, open trade 

17 and investment, to promote and accelerate regional 

18 economic integration, to encourage economic and 

19 technical cooperation, to enhance human security, 

20 and to facilitate a favorable and sustainable business 

21 environment. 

22 (6) APEC held a moratorium on new member23 ship from 1997 to 2010, which has since been lifted. 

24 (7) India has pursued membership in APEC for 

25 over 20 years, and became an APEC observer in NoVerDate Sep 11 2014 04:13 Mar 23, 2016 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4830.IH H4830

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1 vember 2011 at the invitation of the United States, 

2 when the forum met in Hawaii. 

3 (8) India enjoys a location within the Asia-Pa4 cific region which provides an avenue for continued 

5 trade and investment partnerships with APEC mem6 ber states. 

7 (9) India has been or is pursuing bilateral or 

8 multilateral trade agreements with the majority of 

9 APEC member states. 

10 (10) India’s ‘‘Look East, Act East’’ strategy to 

11 expand economic engagement with East and South12 east Asia demonstrates its effort to pursue external 

13 oriented, market-driven economic policies. 

14 (b) ACTIONS.—The Secretary of State shall— 

15 (1) develop a strategy to obtain membership 

16 status for India in APEC, including participation in 

17 related meetings, working groups, activities, and 

18 mechanisms; and 

19 (2) actively urge APEC member states to sup20 port such membership status for India. 

21 (c) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the date 

22 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall 

23 submit to Congress a report, in unclassified form, describ24 ing the United States strategy to obtain membership sta25 tus for India in APEC. Such report shall be updated and 


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1 submitted annually until such time as India obtains mem2 bership in APEC. Each such report shall include the fol3 lowing: 

4 (1) A description of the efforts the Secretary 

5 has made to encourage APEC member states to pro6 mote India’s bid to obtain membership status. 

7 (2) The further steps the Secretary will take to 

8 assist India in obtaining membership status for 

9 APEC. 

Æ 


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