Whether we settle our differences by process, or force. Of course it's imperfect and it can be improved. Some suggest that APEC and regionalism are in contradiction to the WTO and multilateralism. One trade expert once said that regional arrangements were Iike street gangs, not nice, but if you live in the neighbourhood you had better join up. I don't agree.
Open regionalism can give impetus to the best option, multilateralism.
It gives smaller countries the opportunity to learn the political, economic and business skills necessary to engage further. However, it does sometimes reflect the lack of satisfaction with the progress of the multilateral system. I wish you well at APEC, Prime Minister. It will be an important impetus for the Ministerial at Seattle and a new round. Although it's a bit of a worry that frequently such gatherings send dozens of communiqu s to the WTO for consideration.