Forced to deal with a domestic political problem, Clinton sends Vice President Al Gore. The APEC Business Advisory Council, a business-sector panel, is established to advise leaders. Leaders adopt the Manila Action Plan, a compilation of individual action plans from each member, outlining a blueprint for achieving the Bogor liberalization target. Leaders agree to move on 15 sectors. The U.S. and Japan wrangle over agricultural and timber products.
Police use pepper spray to disperse demonstrators.
APEC-skeptic Malaysia takes the chair. The Crisis tops the agenda, with leaders agreeing to pursue a cooperative growth strategy to achieve early and sustained recovery in the region. Finance ministers are to meet more often. Gore, standing in again for Clinton, upsets the hosts by supporting backers of ousted deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim. Peru, Vietnam and Russia join, bringing the membership to 21.