As China hosts the 2026 APEC "China Year," Eduardo Pedrosa, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, has many opportunities to visit the host economy. The head of the APEC Secretariat will spend a busy May in China attending APEC-related conferences.
After attending the APEC Study Centers Consortium Youth Scholars Forum in Shenzhen and the Second APEC Senior Officials' Meeting in Shanghai, Pedrosa is set to attend the 32nd APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting from May 22 to 23 in Suzhou, which will focus largely on Asia-Pacific cooperation amid slowing global growth and rising trade uncertainty.
"The biggest issue that we confront, and we've addressed this in a number of APEC reports, is ensuring that the benefits of globalization are widespread," noted Pedrosa in an exclusive interview with South in early May.
An APEC-themed billboard in Suzhou Industrial Park on May 16, 2026
Pedrosa's co-edited book explores the political economy of a potential FTAAP
As a thought leader on economic affairs who has authored and edited numerous publications, Pedrosa reflected on his co-edited monograph An APEC Trade Agenda? The Political Economy of a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), published with Charles Morrison in 2007. The book sheds light on the geopolitical and geoeconomic issues that Asia-Pacific economies may encounter.
"If I was asked by young scholars focusing on APEC what to look at, I'd recommend that one. Because it's a real insight into what has happened now," he added.
Taking a broader view of the Asia-Pacific, Pedrosa traced the formation of two major free trade agreements: the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). He also pointed to other agreements reviewed at the time, including the North American Free Trade Agreement and the free trade agreement between Australia and New Zealand.
"There's a lot that we can learn from each other through that process," he underlined.
In Pedrosa's view, looking at those processes can help APEC economies move ahead while considering resistance in the sectors affected by a potential FTAAP, including the labor market, integration, trade, and technology.
"Thinking through all of those is an incredibly important part of APEC's work. It is to ensure that we do reach the end goal of an Asia-Pacific community," Pedrosa stated.
Eduardo Pedrosa speaks during the APEC 2025 Food Security Ministerial Meeting in Incheon, South Korea on August 10, 2025.
Head of APEC Secretariat details two regional priorities
Data published by the APEC Secretariat in 2025 showed that since APEC was established in 1989 with 12 founding members, the region's real GDP had surged from US$18.8 trillion to US$57.5 trillion in 2024. APEC now has 21 members and accounts for roughly 60% of the world's total GDP.
Pedrosa attributed this remarkable increase in prosperity to export-driven growth. "Making sure that is spread out throughout our economies is a challenge that we face today and moving ahead," noted the seasoned trade official.
He highlighted two priorities for APEC. First, as economies have moved from agriculture to industry and now to more service-driven models, digital services have emerged rapidly across the region. However, rules for them remain limited.
According to Pedrosa, APEC cannot jump in and immediately regulate. Instead, it needs to hear from consumers and businesses about the best policy settings needed to encourage innovation. "We come up with practical solutions. That's where APEC focuses today."
Second, Pedrosa observed that APEC does not get enough credit for its work on structural reform. The organization is now focusing on ease of doing business, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
"It's not just about big businesses. We want small businesses to be part of that growth of globalization story," he underscored. APEC seeks to ensure that all businesses can benefit, including through practical steps such as making it easier to establish a business, obtain licensing, and navigate regulations.
Notably, amid rising conflicts and protectionism worldwide, Pedrosa highlighted two imperatives for APEC economies to safeguard inclusive and sustainable growth in the region: strengthening supply chain resilience and diversification, and maintaining their commitment to trade liberalization.
A popular spot for online influencers during the APEC "China Year" in Shenzhen on May 17, 2026
China contributes to globalization through development within APEC economies
This year is undoubtedly critical for China and APEC. It marks the 35th anniversary of China's accession to APEC and will be remembered as the APEC "China Year," with the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting to be held in Shenzhen this November.
"China has been an incredible driver of growth," Pedrosa noted. As a large share of poverty reduction has come from China, the country is now not only a consumption market but also a source of outbound Chinese investment. "That's very important for us to think about as we move forward with this next phase of globalization."
During his visit to Shenzhen this May, Pedrosa praised its "Go Global" Global Service Center, which aims to help Shenzhen SMEs go global and attract investors to use Shenzhen as a hub. "That ease of doing business is a part of APEC's agenda that we need to pay more attention to," he added.
Despite pessimism among some people about globalization, many economies, including China, are moving ahead and seeking momentum to keep trade liberalization moving forward.
Pedrosa pointed to Asia-Pacific economies' interest in joining RCEP and CPTPP, as well as the United Kingdom's accession to the CPTPP and growing cooperation between the European Union and the CPTPP.
"It seems like this region, working in parallel, or as part of the Asia-Pacific region, is leading a lot of those conversations," he claimed. In Pedrosa's view, the novel ideas and policy dialogues that are sometimes formalized in agreements in the region all reflect APEC's role as an incubator.
Reporter | Zhang Ruijun
Video & Poster | Guo Hongda
Script | Zhang Ruijun
Photo | CFP
