Strengthening Capacity Building for RTA/FTA Negotiations in APEC

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Capacity building is crucial and necessary in cooperation and integration efforts between two or among several country partners. This Policy Note discusses capacity-building efforts related to regional trade agreements (RTAs) and free trade agreements (FTAs) among Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies. Among others, it identifies consensus building, lack of domestic, institutional, and structural reform, and outreach of FTA and RTA benefits as key areas for capacity building when it comes to implementation. As such, the study urges APEC to extend the coverage of its capacity-building efforts to the strengthening of the foundation in negotiating FTAs and RTAs. It also recommends the inclusion of issues-based approach such as liberalizing traditionally closed sectors or formulating appropriate human resource development policies that would lead to enhanced benefits in general.