WASHINGTON, DC (Sept 26, 2023) – The East-West Center has officially launched its latest Asia Matters for America publication, APEC Matters for America/America Matters for APEC. This publication and website highlight the significance of the collaborative work of the 21 member economies, including APEC’s collective importance to the United States both nationally and at state/local levels. The publication and website both feature infographics, data, and analysis of economic, diplomatic, and cultural ties with APEC economies. In November, the United States will host the APEC leaders’ summit in San Francisco.

Ambassador Matt Murray, US Senior Official for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) at the Department of State, remarked that “The private-public relationship is the secret sauce for APEC. […] It truly is the premier platform for US economic ties to the region.”

An in-person event to launch the new publication, with the support of the National Center for APEC and the US Department of State, was chaired by Dr. Satu Limaye, Vice President of the East-West Center and Director of the Center's Washington and Research programs. The event concluded with an in-person reception on Capitol Hill.

Opening remarks were offered by Murray and Alex Parle, Executive Vice President at the National Center for APEC. Keynote remarks were offered by His Excellency Tanee Sangrat, Ambassador of Thailand to the United States, and His Excellency Gustavo Meza-Cuadra, Ambassador of Peru to the United States—the previous and upcoming hosts of APEC annual meetings. To offer congressional perspectives on the region, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Representative Edward Case (HI-1), and Representative Richard Larsen (WA-2) also offered remarks.

“America is paying so much attention to the Pacific,” said Speaker Emerita Pelosi. “And you should be too.”

The launch also included remarks from prominent US government officials and private sector representatives, including prerecorded comments from Dr. Kurt Campbell, Deputy Assistant to the President and National Security Council Coordinator for the Indo-Pacific and Daniel Kritenbrink, Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, US Department of State; as well as  Sahra English, Managing Director, Global Government Affairs, Citi and Catherine Mellor, Vice President, International Trade, United Parcel Service. The event brought together members of Congress and their staff, US government officials, the private sector, regional experts, and the interested public to celebrate the deep and rich partnerships between the United States and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation.

Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink remarked, “On the eve of the 30^th anniversary of the first APEC economic leaders meeting in Seattle, this important publication highlights the enormous economic impact of US engagement in APEC.”

Produced by the East-West Center with funding and editorial support from the National Center for APEC, APEC Matters for America/America Matters for APEC brings to light important facts and figures, including:

• Nearly 56% of US exports are sent to fellow APEC economies
• Thirty-four US states export over $1 billion each in food and agricultural goods to other APEC economies
• APEC implemented 22 projects and initiatives to address challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Exports to fellow APEC economies support nearly 7 million jobs in the United States
• Students from fellow APEC economies make up 50% of all international students studying abroad in the United States
• The APEC region has increased by nearly 160 million people over the last decade

Dr. Satu Limaye, Vice President of the East-West Center and Director of the Center's Washington and Research programs, remarked: “We could not have published such a comprehensive report without the support of our colleagues at the National Center for APEC and the US Department of State. This initiative advances EWC’s mission by creating a usable resource for officials, media, the businesses, experts, and educators and students.”

APEC Matters for America/America Matters for APEC explores the trade, investment, employment, business, diplomacy, security, education, tourism, and people-to-people interactions and impacts between the United States and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation at the national, state, and local levels. Part of the Asia Matters for America initiative, this publication and the AsiaMattersforAmerica.org website are resources for understanding the robust and dynamic US-APEC relationship and US relationships with other Indo-Pacific countries. The publication can also be found on the Asia Matters for America website.

WASHINGTON, DC (Sept 26, 2023) – The East-West Center has officially launched its latest Asia Matters for America publication, APEC Matters for America/America Matters for APEC. This publication and website highlight the significance of the collaborative work of the 21 member economies, including APEC’s collective importance to the United States both nationally and at state/local levels. The publication and website both feature infographics, data, and analysis of economic, diplomatic, and cultural ties with APEC economies. In November, the United States will host the APEC leaders’ summit in San Francisco.

Ambassador Matt Murray, US Senior Official for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) at the Department of State, remarked that “The private-public relationship is the secret sauce for APEC. […] It truly is the premier platform for US economic ties to the region.”

An in-person event to launch the new publication, with the support of the National Center for APEC and the US Department of State, was chaired by Dr. Satu Limaye, Vice President of the East-West Center and Director of the Center's Washington and Research programs. The event concluded with an in-person reception on Capitol Hill.

Opening remarks were offered by Murray and Alex Parle, Executive Vice President at the National Center for APEC. Keynote remarks were offered by His Excellency Tanee Sangrat, Ambassador of Thailand to the United States, and His Excellency Gustavo Meza-Cuadra, Ambassador of Peru to the United States—the previous and upcoming hosts of APEC annual meetings. To offer congressional perspectives on the region, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Representative Edward Case (HI-1), and Representative Richard Larsen (WA-2) also offered remarks.

“America is paying so much attention to the Pacific,” said Speaker Emerita Pelosi. “And you should be too.”

The launch also included remarks from prominent US government officials and private sector representatives, including prerecorded comments from Dr. Kurt Campbell, Deputy Assistant to the President and National Security Council Coordinator for the Indo-Pacific and Daniel Kritenbrink, Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, US Department of State; as well as  Sahra English, Managing Director, Global Government Affairs, Citi and Catherine Mellor, Vice President, International Trade, United Parcel Service. The event brought together members of Congress and their staff, US government officials, the private sector, regional experts, and the interested public to celebrate the deep and rich partnerships between the United States and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation.

Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink remarked, “On the eve of the 30^th anniversary of the first APEC economic leaders meeting in Seattle, this important publication highlights the enormous economic impact of US engagement in APEC.”

Produced by the East-West Center with funding and editorial support from the National Center for APEC, APEC Matters for America/America Matters for APEC brings to light important facts and figures, including:

• Nearly 56% of US exports are sent to fellow APEC economies
• Thirty-four US states export over $1 billion each in food and agricultural goods to other APEC economies
• APEC implemented 22 projects and initiatives to address challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Exports to fellow APEC economies support nearly 7 million jobs in the United States
• Students from fellow APEC economies make up 50% of all international students studying abroad in the United States
• The APEC region has increased by nearly 160 million people over the last decade

Dr. Satu Limaye, Vice President of the East-West Center and Director of the Center's Washington and Research programs, remarked: “We could not have published such a comprehensive report without the support of our colleagues at the National Center for APEC and the US Department of State. This initiative advances EWC’s mission by creating a usable resource for officials, media, the businesses, experts, and educators and students.”

APEC Matters for America/America Matters for APEC explores the trade, investment, employment, business, diplomacy, security, education, tourism, and people-to-people interactions and impacts between the United States and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation at the national, state, and local levels. Part of the Asia Matters for America initiative, this publication and the AsiaMattersforAmerica.org website are resources for understanding the robust and dynamic US-APEC relationship and US relationships with other Indo-Pacific countries. The publication can also be found on the Asia Matters for America website.