Since its inception in 1989, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) suggested the possibility for Asia-Pacific economic cooperation at the fifth summit in Seattle, USA, in 1993.
APEC Leaders' meetings has discussed a broad vision of regional free trade and investment, and produced institutional ground pledging concerted efforts for trade liberalization, the encouragement of technology transfer and investment by establishing officially Committee on Trade and Investment.
APEC adopted the principle of open regionalism, namely, regional integration without trade discrimination against other economies. This open regionalism contrasts sharply with the approach taken in most regional cooperation agreement including the European Union (EU) and North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
APEC is expected to play a leading role in intra-regional economic cooperation and the creation of a new world economic order based on the multilateral trading system.

제1부 아태경제협력의 새 방향

제2부 아태경제협력의 비젼과 통상환경의 변화
I. 아태경제협력의 비젼과 발전방향: 신태평양공동체의 구상
II. 아태통상환경의 변화: 주요교역국가의 입장과 시각
III. APEC 무역투자협정과 우리의 대응방향

제3부 APEC 무역자유화와 분야별 과제
I. 분쟁해결절차
II. 지적재산권
III. 원산지규정
IV. 쟁점정책
V. 환경
VI. 관세인하
VII. 수출신용
VIII. 금융서비스
IX. 해외투자
X. 정부조달
XI. 표준조화
XII. 거시경제정책협조
XIII. 아태투자협정