Free-trade approach has its doubters. POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Nov 06, 2011 The largest gathering of world leaders in the state's history gives a global megaphone to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation that critics of the organization hope to share. Although such APEC Leaders Meetings produce no legally binding agreements, they have galvanized thousands of protesters at recent gatherings in Japan, South Korea and Australia, raising a range of grievances from the Iraq War to global warming.
At last November's APEC meeting, farmers turned out in force in Yokohama, Japan, to resist efforts to open their markets to foreign competition.
Occupy Honolulu. Secretary Bryson Applauds Completion of Cross Border Privacy Rules. Printer-friendly version FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMonday, November 14, 2011CONTACT OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS202-482-4883 U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson applauded the completion of the Cross Border Privacy Rules system, an outcome of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial Meeting in Hawaii, where the Rules were formally endorsed today. The voluntary rules will promote a baseline set of data privacy practices for companies doing business in participating APEC economies. This is especially critical for companies doing business in the Asia Pacific region, with its impressive growth, dynamism and potential for expanded trade. “This initiative is an important development in international data protection,” Bryson said. The United States and partnering APEC economies began development of this system in 2007 with the strong support of U.S. industry.
No aloha: Obama skips out on APEC tradition. By JAYMES SONG Associated Press November 14, 2011 8:34AM APEC leaders, from left, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, U.S. President Barack Obama, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah and Chilean President Sebastian Pinera walk to the group photo during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011, in Kapolei, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) storyidforme: 21232688 tmspicid: 8007249 fileheaderid: 3599213 Chinese President Hu Jintao in pastels and plumerias? Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sporting pineapples and palm trees? President Barack Obama on Sunday chose not to continue a tradition started by President Bill Clinton nearly two decades ago.
There wasn’t even a single floral lei. Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard stood out by contrast with her white jacket and reddish blouse. “We are ending that tradition,” Obama replied. Obama, however, isn’t the first to skip the tradition. Obama tells China to start behaving like an economic 'grown up' APEC World Leaders Dinner Gets Occupied. November 13, 2011FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APEC World Leaders Dinner Gets OccupiedWithin secure zone, musician sings on behalf of the many Video and photos belowLyrics Honolulu - A change in the programmed entertainment at last night's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gala left a few world leaders slack-jawed, though most seemed not to notice that anything was amiss. During the gala dinner, renowned Hawaiian guitarist Makana, who performed at the White House in 2009, opened his suit jacket to reveal a home-made “Occupy with Aloha” T-shirt.
Then, instead of playing the expected instrumental background music, he spent almost 45 minutes repeatedly singing his protest ballad released earlier that day. The ballad, called “We Are the Many,” includes lines such as “The lobbyists at Washington do gnaw.... “At first, I was worried about playing ‘We Are The Many,’” said Makana. The gala was the most secure event of the summit. Video: Photos (click some for high-res): Lyrics to "We Are the Many": Obama pushes for renewed engagement with Asia. NEW: Leaders from 19 nations meet at APEC conference in HawaiiObama seeks a new era in foreign policy focusing on Asia He has met with his Japanese, Russian and Chinese counterparts Honolulu (CNN) -- Leaders from 19 nations and representatives from two others met Sunday in Hawaii, talking trade and how to jump-start their own and the international economy. For U.S. President Barack Obama, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit was an opportunity to push for renewed engagement with Asia, seeking to highlight domestic jobs that increased exports to the region would create.
The summit wrapped up late Sunday afternoon, with a "class photo" involving those representing all 21 nations in APEC. Obama used the event -- the first involving nations from both sides of the Pacific to be hosted in U.S. territory since Bill Clinton's presidential administration -- as a kickoff for a new era in foreign policy focusing on the region. Harper looks to Asian energy markets after Keystone delay - Politics. Prime Minister Stephen Harper told U.S. President Barack Obama at the APEC summit on Sunday that Canada will look for new markets in Asia for its oil and gas, now that the Keystone pipeline has been delayed for more than a year. Harper made Canada's disappointment in the delay clear when the two leaders sat down for almost 30 minutes at the summit in Hawaii. All of Canada's oil and gas exports currently go south of the border, and Keystone would transport crude from the oilsands to Texas. Now, however, Harper says the U.S. decision has left him no choice.
"I did indicate to him, as I did to the president of China yesterday [Saturday], as our government has indicated, this highlights why Canada must increase its efforts to make sure it can supply its energy outside of the United States and into Asia in particular," Harper said. To that end, the prime minister will visit China sometime next year. The United States has also discussed joining the TPP.