U.S. Interests and Asia-Pacific Cooperation

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As APEC provides venue for exploiting trade and investment gains in an integrated market, it allows the U.S. to strengthen its ties with the world’s dynamic economies and creates a global policy environment that promotes liberalization. Despite the tremendous benefits, however, the American public knows little about APEC. This paper argues that the United States has a vital stake in APEC. It also outlines the challenges the cooperation will face in the future despite good performance over the past eight years.