We, the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade, met in Singapore from 21-22 July 2009.

The global economy appears to be bottoming out, but the outlook remains uncertain and significant risks remain. We will therefore persist with efforts to support growth and facilitate trade and investment flows, keep our markets open, and give a new push to concluding the Doha Round. Looking beyond the current economic crisis, we will accelerate our efforts to integrate the Asia-Pacific region, and ensure that our growth strategies are inclusive and sustainable.

Vietnam's integration with the international economy has increased significantly over the past decade, aided by substantial liberalization of trade, and appears set to increase further as trade-expanding measures take full effect. This dramatic shift in Vietnam's trading patterns has important implications for the environment and use of natural resources. This paper offers a systematic analysis of the trading and investment patterns to give a broader understanding of the environmental implications of greater openness of the economy during the past decade. The results suggest increasing manufacturing and export activity in water and toxic pollution-intensive sectors compared with the less pollution-intensive sectors. The story is, on the surface, consistent with the changing composition of Vietnamese production and exports away from traditional sectors and toward pollution-intensive manufacturing (especially leather and textiles). The paper also highlights the need to consider strengthening environmental policies while further trade liberalization is being contemplated through Vietnam's joining of the World Trade Organization.

This study presents a synthesis of 17 country studies on environmental goods and services (EG&S)
commissioned by the OECD, UNCTAD and the UNDP. The countries examined are Brazil, Chile, China,
Cuba, the Czech Republic, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Kenya, Korea, Mexico,
Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Thailand and Vietnam. Its aim is to identify determinants of demand for
EG&S; to show common themes and experiences in the EG&S markets of different countries; and to draw
attention to key trade, environment and development policy linkages.

Snapshot of water market and business in Asia