State of the Region 2020

On behalf of the members of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC), it is our pleasure to present our fifteenth annual report on the State of the Region.  The State of the Region report is a product of a taskforce established by the governing body of PECC. While efforts are made to ensure that the views of the PECC members are taken into account, the opinions and the facts contained in this report are the sole responsibility of the authors and editorial committee and do not necessarily reflect those of the member committees of PECC, nor their individual members.

Download:  State of the Region Report 2020

 

 Press Releases:  

• Economic recovery in 2021 possible but requires commitment to greater Regional Cooperation
• Logistics, Regulatory Challenges for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution
  
  

 

CONTENT

I MESSAGE FROM THE CO-CHAIRS OF PECC

II CHAPTER 1: IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 CRISIS UPDATE

ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

Big gains, big challenges

Stimulus Measures

Impact on Income Inequality

The External Sector

Current WTO Challenges and APEC’s Role

The Covid Context for Regional Economic Integration

International Travel

Investment

FDI Inflow Trends

Digital sector

THE EVOLUTION OF THE PANDEMIC

Vaccine development

Information Sharing and Minimizing Supply Chain Disruptions

CLIMATE CHANGE

Finance for Sustainable Development

CONCLUSIONS

III CHAPTER 2: THE NEW GENERATION OF 'DIGITAL' TRADE AGREEMENTS: FIT FOR PURPOSE?

THE NEW ‘DIGITAL’ TRADE AGREEMENTS

TABLE 1: CONTEXT AND KEY PROVISIONS OF FOUR DIGITAL TRADE AGREEMENTS

SIMILARITIES IN ‘DIGITAL’ TRADE LANGUAGE: A PATH FORWARD?

Table 2: Comparison of Key Digital Trade Provisions
Table 3: Key and Developing Language Across Digital Trade Agreements

DIFFERENCES IN DIGITAL TRADE LANGUAGE

NEW ‘DIGITAL’ TRADE AGREEMENTS: A WAY FORWARD, A FALSE START, OR A DEAD END?

Table 4: Definitional Gaps Across Digital Trade Agreements

APPENDIX 1: COMPARISON OF LANGUAGE FOR ELEVEN COMMON PROVISIONS ACROSS THE FOUR AGREEMENTS