06 June 2002
U.S. to Seek Greater Cooperation in War on Terrorism in APEC
(Ambassador Darryl Johnson hails alliance with Thailand) (2360)
President Bush will seek to strengthen cooperation in the war on
terrorism among his Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum
counterparts when they gather at Los Cabos, Mexico in October,
according to U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Darryl Johnson.
Speaking at the National Center for APEC in Seattle June 6, Johnson
added that while terrorism remains "a foremost concern in the minds of
the American public and those of other APEC members," terrorism is
also "an impediment to achieving the benefits promised by more open
trade and investment."
Johnson praised Thailand for being unwavering in its commitment to the
"Bogor goals" -- free trade and open investment by 2020 (2010 for
developed economies) -- and want to see "words being put into
actions."
The Bangkok government, with Washington, is pressing APEC to play a
leading role in the World Trade Organization in "fighting
protectionism" and ensuring that "economic liberalization pays
dividends," he added.
Thailand is one of America's "strongest allies anywhere," Johnson
said.
"Our relationship goes back a long way, and throughout the years we
have worked together on defense and security, as well as on trade and
investment," Johnson said, adding that in recent years, U.S.-Thai
cooperation has extended to "fighting drug abuse, HIV/AIDS, and more
recently, terrorism."
Johnson recalled how APEC leaders rallied to the call of President
Bush in Shanghai shortly after the devastating terror attacks of
September 11.
"APEC leaders condemned the 9/11 attacks in the strongest terms,"
Johnson said, "This was a significant show of unity by economies
representing 60 percent of world GDP and one quarter of the world's
Muslim population."
The statement by APEC leaders, he said, committed their countries "to
implement relevant UN conventions and resolutions, including those
aimed at cutting off financing for terrorist groups, such as
al-Qaida."
Johnson noted that Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
members backed the APEC declaration as part of their "critical,
multi-faceted participation in the war on terror."
Johnson also praised ASEAN for responding to the People's Republic of
China's growing impact on trade and investment patterns "not with
protectionist proposals, but with pursuit of a China-ASEAN Free Trade
Agreement."
The growing interest among ASEAN members in free trade agreements
reflects their philosophical commitment to trade and foreign
investment, Johnson said. There is, for example, interest in Thailand
and the United States in creating a Trade and Investment Framework
Agreement (TIFA), "which could lead to elaboration of the elements of
a possible free trade agreement," Johnson said.
"APEC gives us confidence that regional developments will fuel free
trade trends globally, and not degenerate into exclusive,
protectionist groupings," he said.
Following is the text of the June 6 speech of U.S. Ambassador to
Thailand Darryl Johnson in Seattle Washington before the National
Center for APEC:
(begin text)
(begin text)
National Center for APEC -- Luncheon Address
The Hon. Darryl Johnson
U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand
The Rainier Club, Seattle, WA
June 6, 12:00 p.m.
APEC's Growing Value
It gives me great pleasure to discuss APEC's special importance for
the U.S. APEC members account for about half of the world's exports
and imports and have an enormous impact on international trade trends
and policy. Consuming half a trillion dollars in U.S. exports per
year, APEC is home to our biggest customers in the world.
Within APEC, the members of ASEAN hold particular significance for the
U.S. ASEAN is a market of about half a billion people; its total trade
with the U.S., exceeding $120 billion, ranks ASEAN as a block ranks
just behind our AFTA partners, the EU, and Japan as a major trading
partner. Propelled by the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), intra-ASEAN
trade has increased four and a half times since AFTA implementation
commenced in 1993; except for Malaysian autos, implementation is due
to be completed next year. Testament to the region's dynamism, U.S.
investment in ASEAN grew more than 340 percent between 1990 and 2000.
APEC was established 13 years ago because it had become clear that
growing interdependence among Asia-Pacific economies needed a vehicle
for broad discussion of trade and investment issues. APEC also
provides a regular forum at which leaders of the 21 member economies
can discuss current issues beyond the economic realm and can resolve
disputes. Quite simply, it has become the single most important
institution in the Asia-Pacific region. As the site of the first APEC
Leaders meeting and home of the National Center for APEC, Seattle has
played a central role in U.S. participation in APEC.
APEC's value beyond its central trade and investment agenda was driven
home at the APEC Leaders' Summit in Shanghai, barely a month after the
9/11 atrocity. Responding to President Bush's call for a worldwide
coalition against terrorism, APEC leaders condemned the 9/11 attacks
in the strongest terms. This was a significant show of unity by
economies representing 60 percent of world GDP and one quarter of the
world's Muslim population. The statement committed APEC members to
implement relevant UN conventions and resolutions, including those
aimed at cutting off financing for terrorist groups, such as al-Qaida.
Beyond these commitments, it is almost axiomatic that the
interrelationships encompassed by APEC's "Bogor goals" -- free trade
and open investment by 2020 (2010 for developed economies) -- will
make the world a more secure place. I should add that ASEAN members'
support for and implementation of the APEC declaration are just part
of their critical, multi-faceted participation in the war on terror.
Multilaterally, a Multiplier
As Ambassador to one of our oldest trading partners in the region, I
am struck by how multi-layered our economic relationship is. Every
week the Embassy engages our Thai counterparts on not only a host of
bilateral issues, but on the work of innumerable multilateral economic
institutions -- FAO, ICAO, WCO, almost any alphabetic combination you
can imagine. And of course, this past year work toward a new round at
the WTO, which will soon be headed by a Thai, Dr. Supachai, took on
central significance.
The vigorous work of APEC's 16 special committees and working groups
informs the positions of the member states in so many of these other
fora, projecting the APEC vision more globally. The APEC leaders'
pledge last year to support the launch of a new global trade round at
Doha was just one example of APEC's invaluable multiplier effect.
Thailand and the other ASEAN countries lie near the center of numerous
critical debates at the WTO and other multilateral institutions. They
are important bridges between developed world and developing, and
influential in cross-cutting disputes, such as those over
biotechnology, agricultural subsidies, and foreign investment
liberalization. Collaboration at APEC boosts prospects that these
broader debates will be resolved in a manner supportive of expanded
trade and investment.
Synergy at Regional Level
APEC plays an important positive role in modulating regional
developments, as well. Looking at Southeast Asia, in fact, APEC's
objectives and ASEAN's commitment to implement its Free Trade Area are
mutually reinforcing. APEC might not have become the significant
institution it is without the basic belief in freer trade and
investment among the ASEAN founding members. At the same time, APEC
has served to sustain that belief among ASEAN members through a
buckling financial crisis and its protracted recovery. And looking
ahead, the Bogor goals will help members stay the course as they face
new challenges. It is noteworthy, also, that ASEAN has responded to
China's growing impact on trade and investment patterns not with
protectionist proposals, but with pursuit of a China-ASEAN Free Trade
Agreement. Certainly, the growing interest among ASEAN members in FTAs
reflects their philosophical commitment to trade and foreign
investment. In Thailand, this has led to our mutual interest in a
Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), which could lead to
elaboration of the elements of a possible free trade agreement. APEC
gives us confidence that regional developments will fuel free trade
trends globally, and not degenerate into exclusive, protectionist
groupings.
... and Confidence Nationally
On a national level, APEC collaboration offers member governments the
data, policy guidance, and peer support needed to advance their own
liberalization and reform agendas more effectively. This is especially
important as nations become more democratic and governments adjust to
the domestic pressures of increasingly organized interest groups and a
free press.
In Thailand, APEC's work has been a continuous resource for economic
reform advocates. A new APEC Study Center will make better-informed
opinion-makers, students, and the public at large. And APEC's
resources and objectives will complement the bilateral work program we
hope to see underway soon under the TIFA I just mentioned. U.S. Trade
Representative Bob Zoellick is fond of saying we will push free trade
bilaterally, regionally, and globally; with APEC, we can do all three
at once.
Opportunities at Los Cabos
What can we look forward to when President Bush meets his APEC
counterparts at Los Cabos, Mexico, in October? Strengthening
cooperation in the fight against terrorism will be a priority again.
Terrorism remains a foremost concern in the minds of the American
public and those of other APEC members; it is an impediment to
achieving the benefits promised by more open trade and investment.
On the trade and investment front, U.S. leadership will promote needed
reforms, particularly creating greater certainty for the foreign
investment that will be a key to recovery. In this regard, we will
seek in APEC to:
-- Negotiate an agreement on economic transparency;
-- Lay the basis for negotiation in 2003 of a digital trade agreement;
-- Implement key parts of the "e-APEC" (information technology)
strategy;
-- Push for more energy and telecom sector liberalization;
-- Take concrete steps to create new Strategic Petroleum Reserves in
key countries; and
-- Continue public-private dialogue aimed at boosting food
productivity.
Looking Ahead to Thailand's APEC 2003
I am excited about the prospects for progress at Los Cabos, but you'll
have to forgive me if I look past it to next year, when Thailand hosts
APEC. It may be a bit premature to attempt a preview of the Thai APEC
Meeting but permit me some observations. Amb. Larry Greenwood, the
senior U.S. official on APEC, was in Bangkok recently to discuss a
potential theme for the Thai APEC, among other things. Although
Thailand's theme has yet to be finalized, its current APEC priorities
are illuminating. The Thai have been unwavering in their commitment to
the Bogor goals and want to see "words being put into actions". They
join us in pressing APEC to play a leading role in the WTO in fighting
protectionism and ensuring that economic liberalization pays
dividends. Specific topics featured in the Thai agenda include
facilitation of paperless trading under the E-Commerce framework,
promotion of SMEs, and implementation of counter-terrorism measures.
In Thailand, the U.S. has one of our strongest allies anywhere. Our
relationship goes back a long way, and throughout the years we have
worked together on defense and security, as well as on trade and
investment. In recent decades, our cooperation has extended to
fighting drug abuse, HIV/AIDS, and more recently, terrorism.
I look forward to working with the Thai as they host APEC. One thing I
can offer definitively on Thailand's APEC hosting -- and I speak from
considerable personal experience -- is that participants will be
treated to charm and hospitality second to none.
With that, I'd like to thank you all for our very warm reception here.
I'll be happy to field questions about Thailand, either here or at the
Embassy in Bangkok, which I encourage you all to visit when you're in
the region.
(end text)
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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