Most executives continue to see some progress on
trade openness in the region. There has been little
change in their views since 2014: 53% of APEC CEOs
this year say progress toward free trade in the region
has been ‘slow’ over past 12 months compared with
55% of executives with the same view in 2014.
These views were expressed before the US elected
Donald Trump as president, who as a candidate,
made clear that major US trade arrangements, in
particular the NAFTA pact with Canada and Mexico,
were ripe for review. Clearly, there is a new level of
uncertainty around established US trade relations.