APEC United States 2011

APEC United States 2011
Name	APEC United States 2011
Date	November 7–13, 2011
Venue	Honolulu, Hawaii
Cities	Honolulu
Participants	Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation member economies
Chair	Barack Obama

APEC United States 2011. The APEC United States 2011 was a series of high-level meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum hosted by the United States in Honolulu, Hawaii. It marked the first time the United States had hosted the annual summit since the inaugural event in Seattle in 1993. The meetings culminated in the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting chaired by U.S. President Barack Obama, focusing on regional economic integration and trade liberalization.

Background and host selection

The decision for the United States to host the 2011 forum was part of a long-standing rotation among APEC member economies. The last U.S. hosting occurred in 1993 under President Bill Clinton in Seattle, a summit credited with advancing the vision of a Pacific Rim trade community. The Obama Administration viewed the 2011 summit as a cornerstone of its strategic "pivot to Asia," aiming to reassert American economic and diplomatic engagement in the Asia-Pacific region. The selection of Honolulu as the host city underscored the United States' geographic and cultural connections to the broader Pacific community.

Themes and priorities

The official theme was "Seamless Regional Economy," with three primary policy pillars. These focused on strengthening regional economic integration and expanding trade, promoting green growth through environmental goods and services, and advancing regulatory convergence and cooperation. Key priorities included making concrete progress on the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific as a long-term vision, addressing next-generation trade and investment issues like supply chain connectivity, and reducing tariffs on environmental goods. The agenda was heavily influenced by the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, which several APEC members were actively pursuing.

Events and meetings

The week-long summit featured over 100 meetings, beginning with the APEC Senior Officials' Meeting and culminating in the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. Major gatherings included the APEC Ministerial Meeting chaired by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, the APEC Business Advisory Council summit, and the APEC CEO Summit. A significant parallel event was the APEC Women and the Economy Summit, which aimed to promote women's economic participation. Key discussions were held at venues including the Hawaii Convention Center and the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa.

Participants and delegations

Leaders from all 21 APEC member economies attended, including Barack Obama of the United States, Hu Jintao of the People's Republic of China, and Yoshihiko Noda of Japan. Other notable participants were Stephen Harper of Canada, Julia Gillard of Australia, and Dmitry Medvedev of Russia. The Republic of China was represented by a ministerial-level delegation due to diplomatic protocols. High-profile business leaders from companies like FedEx and Google participated in the APEC CEO Summit, while civil society groups held forums on sustainable development.

Outcomes and declarations

The summit concluded with the issuance of the Honolulu Declaration and the APEC Leaders' Declaration. Key outcomes included a commitment to reduce applied tariffs on a list of 54 environmental goods to five percent or less by 2015, and a pledge to address behind-the-border barriers to trade. Leaders endorsed an APEC List of Environmental Goods and set targets to improve supply chain performance. They also agreed to take concrete steps toward realizing the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific. The declarations provided political impetus for the ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership talks among several member economies.

Legacy and impact

APEC United States 2011 is widely seen as reinvigorating American leadership within the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation framework at a time of rising Chinese economic influence. The summit's tangible outcomes on environmental goods and supply chains became reference points for subsequent APEC work programs. It also served as a crucial diplomatic platform for advancing the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which was signed in 2016. The event highlighted Honolulu's role as a bridge between East Asia and North America, and the "Seamless Regional Economy" theme continued to influence APEC's agenda in following years, including discussions on digital economy and services trade.

Category:APEC summits Category:2011 in international relations Category:2011 in the United States Category:International summits hosted by the United States Category:2011 in Hawaii