ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION:APEC Bulletin

 

APEC Bulletin 22 September 2021
It's Time to Rethink Global Travel Restrictions By Denis Hew For many economies in the Asia-Pacific region, containing the highly infectious Delta COVID-19 variant has proven to be very challenging despite stringent border restrictions and active contact tracing. The region's vital tourism sector continues to struggle for survival with knock-on impacts on the transport, retail, and food & beverage sectors. Travel in the now-extended COVID-19 era has been chaotic. To protect people from infection, governments all over the world have put up bans, rules and restrictions, few of which are aligned across economies. Even essential travel in 2020 and 2021 has become more cumbersome and, consequently, more exclusive, than it has been in decades. Who are allowed to embark on essential travel, then? That depends on where you are headed or where you are from. Most economies consider only residents, citizens and their families exempt from bans. Other governments have made it easy to get a permit if you are a high-powered businessperson or trader, but somehow seafarers and air crew who enable the movement of essential goods and supplies often do not make the cut. Even border health measures are not consistent. Depending on the port, screenings may take the form of a polymerase chain reaction, an antigen rapid test or a serology antibody test. Read: “Passports, Tickets and Face Masks: COVID-19 and Cross-Border Mobility in the APEC Region,” by the APEC Policy Support Unit, for a summary of analysis of travel rules and exceptions in the APEC region. Not every economy requires testing. Some give travelers a choice between testing or quarantine; some require only testing; others require a combination of tests and quarantines. The timing of the tests is far from uniform. You might be required to take it 72 hours prior to boarding, sometimes right before boarding, sometimes upon arrival, sometimes a combination of the above. All this does not augur well for travel and tourism's swift return, which would be bad news for many. Before the pandemic, nonresident arrivals in the Asia-Pacific region had been growing around 4 percent a year, reaching 544 million arrivals in 2019. TRADE, ECONOMIES TAKE A HIT Most of this volume was made up of tourists, but it also brought business and investment, workers, migrants and students, refugees and asylum seekers, and conventioneers such as those of us who attend APEC meetings, all of which has a positive correlation with trade, economic growth and cultural exchange. There are consequences to losing this. Once border restrictions were put in place in 2020, these arrivals fell by 75 percent. It has cost the Asia-Pacific region an estimated US$500 billion to US$800 billion in lost trade and around US$1.2 trillion in lost economic output. It was once easy to justify such a high price in thinking that blocked travel indeed protects populations from infection. But recent data from multiple sources, including published epidemiological studies, paint a different picture. Between January 2020 and April 2021, COVID-19 cases have spiked regardless of the stringency of new travel measures. While the timing of bans and border measures do count for something, it turns out at-the-border measures are only effective if behind-the-border pandemic control measures are already in place. What does this information mean for someone thinking about COVID-19 policy? For one thing, "no one is safe until everyone is safe" has gone from a statement of fact to an urgent call to action. Isolation, at best, bought some time, but the economic losses were immediate, not to mention impacts on families torn and opportunities lost. Unless widespread and equitable vaccination, therapeutics, and testing is put front and center, every piecemeal safe bubble will soon and inevitably be popped by the next wave of infection or mutation. Furthermore, our instinctive reaction to act unilaterally in the face of an unknown threat is not necessary anymore. More than 20 months into the pandemic, we know more about the virus and we now have the vaccines and therapeutics to manage it. We know what works and what does not in controlling the pandemic. We are now in a better position to harmonize our cross-border policies than when we first shut them. The morass of conflicting and contradicting COVID-19 regulations at our borders can no longer be excused as teething pains. It will take behind-the-border policy cooperation to ensure quick and equitable access to vaccines and therapeutics; and at-the-border policy coordination to harmonize policies and recognition of health certificates. USING DIGITAL TECH FOR SAFE ENTRY Utilizing digital technology to facilitate safe entry would be welcome. These will not only reopen travel, but also facilitate trade by enabling the movement of essential workers like seafarers and air crew. APEC is in a unique position to contribute here. It has various groups focused on trade, standards, the digital economy, public health, business mobility, tourism, transportation and others, all of which can be brought to bear on this issue. Its informal and voluntary culture allows it to have frank discussions and nimble processes that promote the incubation of ideas. This is the moment Apec can show that its brand of innovative and multi-sectoral regional cooperation can produce concrete and tangible results. # Dr Hew is the director of the APEC Policy Support Unit. A version of this article was originally published by The Business Times. For more on this topic, download “Passports, Tickets and Face Masks: COVID-19 and Cross-Border Mobility in the APEC Region,” by the APEC Policy Support Unit. News Releases • Features • Publications • Events • Photos • Videos

IMF:To Safeguard Global Financial Stability, Boost the Resilience of Investment Funds

 

Dear maria, We just published a new blog—please find the full text below.  How Countries Can Diversify Their Exports     By Gonzalo Salinas   Four economy-wide factors—governance, education, infrastructure, and trade policy—relate closely to more varied and complex exports across countries As the world’s biggest copper producer, Chile’s shipments of the metal meet around one-third of global demand and represent about half its goods exports. But beyond mining’s dominance, Chile’s trade flows are more varied and complex than they may appear, with significant exports of vehicles, pharmaceuticals and telecommunications equipment. And according to a recent IMF staff paper, the Andean economy is among those that shine as a role model for diversification policies. By looking beyond commodities, the research shows that economy-wide policies such as governance and education help foster diverse exports more than narrowly targeted industrial policies, a finding that can better guide nations aiming to expand their international trade. The examination of 201 countries and territories goes beyond the economic complexity indices that have traditionally been used by economists. Those proxies for the productive capability of a given economic system have strong sensitivity to commodities, which can distort their accuracy. For a more nuanced read, staff research proposes new ways to gauge diversity and complexity of national exports and suggests how economy-wide policies can foster such variety. Economists call these horizontal policies because they apply broadly across a country instead of targeting single sectors. The approach also takes stock of an economy’s geographic proximity to trade partners, and how it affects exports excluding commodities like metals or oil. This lens offers policymakers lessons for how they can better support more multifaceted trade, a common objective in emerging and developing economies because it’s associated with less volatile economic output and faster long-term expansion. Four key factors The methodology shows a clear a link between the non-commodity exports that aid diversification and complexity and four economy-wide variables that help support them: governance, education, infrastructure, and open trade. Improving those areas helps to diversify by creating conditions that make it possible to boost complex or higher-value-added exports. This is significant because demonstrating how economy-wide policies do explain diversification challenges the belief that industrial policies, meant to support specific industries, offer the best way to broaden trade. The analysis shows that, except for abundant copper reserves, Chile’s economic profile, surprisingly, resembles Malaysia’s. The Asian nation has similarly strong education and institutions, but it benefits from being much closer to the major global supply-chain hubs of China, Japan and Korea. Prominent Asian and European exporters, from Hong Kong and Singapore to Ireland and Denmark, have among the most diverse and complex shipments and the strongest horizontal policies. Good policies can make a big difference For governments aspiring to more varied trade flows, the new approach to explaining diversification underscores the need to effectively shorten geographic distance by enhancing connectivity between nations. Better transportation logistics, at seaports for example, effectively shorten distance by reducing transit times for goods. Other helpful policies include easing trade policy barriers, enhancing trade facilitation, fostering the spread of technology through educational exchange programs, and investing in communication technologies such as broadband that support the digital economy. Strengthening horizontal policies may seem challenging, especially for countries with lower income. However, several countries have much stronger policies than expected for their income levels, including Rwanda for governance; Georgia and Ukraine for educational attainment; Malaysia for infrastructure; and Mauritius and Peru for tariffs. These economies can be role models. To be sure, that doesn’t deny the potential effectiveness of more targeted support for individual sectors. Industrial policy levers, though, may be less effective or even harmful. Potential drawbacks include diminished fiscal capacity, a race to the bottom in taxation, and eroded multilateralism. Furthermore, there is no cross-country statistical evidence of their effectiveness. Instead, diversification strategies built around broader policies and connectivity are both less controversial and more supportive of export diversification and complexity.

Glenn Gottselig Blog Editor IMF Weekend Read ggottselig@IMF.org   Thank you again for your interest in IMF Blog. Read more of our latest content here. Take good care!

ΓΙΩΡΓΟΥ ΑΡΒΑΝΙΤΙΔΗ,ΒΟΥΛΕΥΤΟΥ Β'ΘΕΣΣ/ΚΗΣ ΚΙΝ.ΑΛ. ενημέρωση

Ραδιοφωνική συνέντευξη του Γιώργου Αρβανιτίδη στο Flash Radio 99,4

Ο Γιώργος Αρβανιτίδης μιλάει στο Flash Radio 99.4 στην εκπομπή " Άναψε Φλας" με τον Βαγγέλη Στολάκη για:

-Τις πολιτικές τοποθετήσεις των αρχηγών των 3 κομμάτων (ΝΔ, ΣΥΡΙΖΑ, Κίνημα Αλλαγής) στη ΔΕΘ

-Τις εσωκομματικές εκλογές του Κινήματος Αλλαγής για την εκλογή αρχηγού

ΑΚΟΥΣΤΕ ΠΑΡΑΚΑΤΩ ΟΛΗ ΤΗ ΣΥΝΕΝΤΕΥΞΗ ΤΟΥ ΓΙΩΡΓΟΥ ΑΡΒΑΝΙΤΙΔΗ



Ραδιοφωνική συνέντευξη του Γιώργου Αρβανιτίδη στο ΠΡΑΚΤΟΡΕΙΟ FM 104,9

Ο Γιώργος Αρβανιτίδης μιλάει στο ΠΡΑΚΤΟΡΕΙΟ FM 104.9 από τη συχνότητα της ΔΕΘ και σχολιάζει:

-Τις εξαγγελίες του Πρωθυπουργού στη ΔΕΘ για το Περιβάλλον και τη Θεσσαλονίκη και ειδικότερα για τη Δυτική Θεσσαλονίκη

-Την κλιματική κρίση και τις επιπτώσεις της για μια "Πράσινη Βιώσιμη Θεσσαλονίκη"

-Το μετρό και την ανάπλαση της ΔΕΘ

-Την ανάπλαση του Γαλλικού ποταμού

ΑΚΟΥΣΤΕ ΠΑΡΑΚΑΤΩ ΟΛΗ ΤΗ ΣΥΝΕΝΤΕΥΞΗ ΤΟΥ ΓΙΩΡΓΟΥ ΑΡΒΑΝΙΤΙΔΗ

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT:update

 

Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο

Latest news - Next REGI meeting - 27 September 2021 (remote meeting) - Committee on Regional Development 22/09/2021 In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the President of the European Parliament has established a number of measures to contain the spread of the virus and to safeguard Parliament's core activities. The current precautionary measures do not affect work on legislative priorities. Core activities are maintained to ensure the smooth running of the institution's legislative, budgetary, and scrutiny functions. The meetings allow for remote participation in a virtual environment. The next REGI Committee meeting will take place on Monday 27 September 2021 from 13.45-15.45 Συνοπτικά πρακτικά - Δευτέρα 12 Ιουλίου 2021 - Τρίτη 13 Ιουλίου 2021 - PE695.337v01-00 - Υποεπιτροπή Ασφάλειας και Άμυνας 22/09/2021 Latest news - Meetings schedule - Committee on Legal Affairs 22/09/2021 The next JURI Committee meetings are scheduled on: 30 September 2021, 9.00-11.00 and 16.45-17.45 11 October 2021, 13.45-15.45 14 October 2021, 13.45-15.45 27 October 2021, 9.00-12.00, 13.45-15.45 and 16.45-18.45 28 October 2021, 9.00-12.00, 13.45-15.45 and 16.45-18.45 In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the President of the European Parliament has established a number of measures to contain the spread of the virus and to safeguard Parliament's core activities. The current precautionary measures do not affect work on legislative priorities. Core activities are maintained to ensure the smooth running of the institution's legislativ REPORT on a European Parliament recommendation to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on EU-Taiwan political relations and cooperation - A9-0265/2021 22/09/2021 REPORT on a European Parliament recommendation to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on EU-Taiwan political relations and cooperation Committee on Foreign Affairs Charlie Weimers Latest news - Next AIDA Committee Meetings - Special Committee on Artificial Intelligence in a Digital Age 21/09/2021 In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the President of the European Parliament has established a number of measures to contain the spread of the virus and to safeguard Parliament's core activities. The current precautionary measures do not affect work on legislative priorities. Core activities are maintained to ensure the smooth running of the institution's legislative, budgetary, and scrutiny functions. The meetings allow for remote participation in a virtual environment. Next AIDA public hearings will take place on Thursday, 30 September 2021 (9.00-12.00) and on Monday, 11 October 2021 (13.45-15.45) Special Committee on Artificial Intelligence in a Digital Age mandate Συνοπτικά πρακτικά - Πέμπτη 16 Σεπτεμβρίου 2021 - Στρασβούργο - Προσωρινή έκδοση 22/09/2021 Πηγή : © Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση, 2021 - EK Συνοπτικά πρακτικά - Τρίτη 14 Σεπτεμβρίου 2021 - Στρασβούργο - Αποτελέσματα ψηφοφοριών - Προσωρινή έκδοση 22/09/2021 Πηγή : © Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση, 2021 - EK Συνοπτικά πρακτικά - Δευτέρα 13 Σεπτεμβρίου 2021 - Στρασβούργο - Αποτελέσματα ψηφοφοριών - Προσωρινή έκδοση 22/09/2021 Πηγή : © Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση, 2021 - EK

WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION:latest news

 

22 Sep 2021 Latest news

Dear maria CHADZIDAKIS VAVOURANAKIS, Below are the news items published today on the WTO public website

NEWS ITEM Trade Policy Review: Singapore The eighth review of the trade policies and practices of Singapore takes place on 22 and 24 September 2021. The basis for the review is a report by the WTO Secretariat and a report by the Government of Singapore. TPR documents   ⟶

NEWS ITEM DDG Zhang calls for symbiotic relationship between trade and development Trade should remain an important instrument for growth and development in least-developed countries (LDCs), Deputy Director-General Xiangchen Zhang told ambassadors from LDCs on 17 September at the closing session of the South-South Dialogue on LDCs and Development in Montreux, Switzerland. Trade and development partners should “work hand in hand with LDCs to continue to build synergies,” he said. “The future hinges on how we can make the trade and development relationship symbiotic, thereby reinforcing each other.” DDG Zhang’s full remarks are available below. News item   ⟶

EUROPEAN COMMISSION,newsletter:banking and finance

 

Banking and finance Finance Newsletter

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Call for applications for the Financial Services Users Group The European Commission has recently opened a new call for applications, to find members for the Financial Services Users Group (FSUG). Members can include people representing the interests of consumers, retail investors or micro-enterprises, as well as individual experts with expertise in financial services from the consumer perspective. Deadline for first selection: 30 September 2021.  Click on the ‘more’ button below to apply (under the ‘continuously open calls’ section).   more

This is the European Commission's Finance Newsletter. It is hosted by the Directorate-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union.

The Doughboy Foundation:Announcing Bells of Peace 2021 - A WWI Remembrance

 

Join us for Bells of Peace 2021 Toll “Bells of Peace” on 11/11 at 11am local time, and honor all those who served and sacrificed in WWI. Bells of Peace is a U.S. national bell tolling remembrance that was created in collaboration with the Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (SHGTUS) to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the World War I Armistice, November 11, 2018.   The Doughboy Foundation has since promoted Bells of Peace as an annual remembrance of those who served in WWI and of the moment when the guns fell silent, and bells tolled in Europe… on the 11th day of the 11th month, at the 11th hour in 1918. Register By registering for Bells of Peace 2021, you can include and share your organization's logo as a participant. We will keep you updated on relevant news and information about the event and your participation and tagged social media posts will go into the archive of participation. Sign Up   "Here Rests in Honored Glory..." 2021 marks the 100th anniversary of the interment ceremonies officiated by President Warren G. Harding when an unknown soldier from WWI was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery establishing the hallowed Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on November 11, 1921. This year as we toll the Bells of Peace at 11am local on 11/11, we will also reflect on this solemn event triggered by America's participation in WWI. TUS Centennial Commemoration     Participation App Download the free Bells of Peace Participation App. An easy way to register your participation. A countdown timer until 11am local on 11/11 local time. Select a bell and manually toll it at 11am or have it auto toll 21 times at the appointed time. Have several people use their smartphones together to create a group bell tolling. Mix it with other acoustic bells for a truly memorable 21 peal remembrance of those who served and serve. If  you are a teacher, use the Bells of Peace Participation app to involve your students in the history and meaning of Veterans Day in an engaging and experiential way. Share your Bells of Peace event with all the other participants through the App using the built-in social sharing channel. Download the App   Link in your own Social Media posts Even if you don't use the Bells of Peace Participation App, you can tag your social media posts with #BellsOfPeace and we will bring them into our aggregator to share with everyone. We scan for posts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube with #BellsOfPeace. Your posts will appear on the Bells of Peace website and in the App for all to see how you remember. This year we will also be scanning for #TUS100 honoring the Centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Our Bells of Peace participation archive goes all the way back to 2018 with hundreds of great posts from our participants.Check it out. and just keep clicking MORE.    If you have questions or need help with your participation reach out through: BellsOfPeace@doughboy.org   Doughboy.org/Bells "Bells of Peace" is supported by the Doughboy Foundation as a part of its mission.

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The Doughboy Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit funded by philanthropic contributions. Our mission is to keep the story of WWI in the minds of all Americans, so that the 4.7 million who served in the Armed Forces, and how WWI changed America, will never be forgotten. This email was sent to politikimx@gmail.com using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: The Doughboy Foundation · PO Box 17586 #123 · Arlington, VA 22216