EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) conducted its annual opinion survey of the Asia-Pacific policy community from June to August 2026. The survey gathered responses from more than 500 experts and thought leaders from government, business, academia, civil society, and the media across 23 economies. In a nutshell, it captures their views on economic outlooks, risks to growth, policy priorities for APEC Leaders, and the issues pertaining to artificial intelligence (AI) adoption. Chapter 1 finds...

PECC Signature Project Report Artificial intelligence has significant potential to improve trade facilitation across the Asia-Pacific, but its adoption should remain practical, evidence-based, and grounded in strong governance. Generative AI is expected to play an increasingly important role in customs and border management, particularly when connected to authoritative knowledge bases. Practical applications include officer assistants that search laws, rulings, procedures, and risk indicators; trader assistants that guide...

With contributions from more than 120 experts across 28 countries and regions, including 26 heads of state and ministerial-level officials, the report examines how AI is increasingly embedded across energy systems, infrastructure, manufacturing, logistics, finance, certification, education, and public governance. It analyzes how AI is transforming climate mitigation and adaptation in practice, and what is required to translate technical capability into scalable sustainability outcomes. Rather than treating AI as a...

This report examines the principal trends shaping digital commerce in the Asia-Pacific region, with a focus on Australia, China, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore, in order to derive policy-relevant insights for Chile. It identifies and assesses public policy approaches that have effectively supported digital transformation and e-commerce, with particular attention to regulatory design, incentive structures, and innovation and capacity-building instruments. The report also analyzes the institutional and regulatory...

When the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) entered into force in 2018, Chapter 14 on Electronic Commerce represented a forward-looking approach to digital trade. Since then, the digital economy has undergone a radical transformation, fuelled by breakthroughs in digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI), alongside dramatic shifts in geopolitical dynamics. These developments have created both new opportunities and emerging risks, underscoring the urgent need for updated...

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY From June to August 2025, the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) conducted its annual expert opinion survey, gathering responses from over 500 leaders from government, business, academia, civil society, and media across 24 economies. The results outline their views on different topics ranging from the future economic outlooks, top risks to growth, and top priorities that APEC leaders must urgently address. Chapter 1 reveals that in the next few years, more than half of respondents expect subdued...