Output
1) Preliminary Study
Prior to the commencement of the project, a Preliminary Study will be prepared to serve as the analytical foundation and discussion paper for the subsequent workshop. The study will be conducted primarily through a desk-based review of literature and publicly availableinformation, focusing on the use of services trade data to support trade negotiations and the assessment of services trade liberalization within APEC economies. Several economies will be examined further through a literature review as references (subject to further development and discussion, and therefore may change or expand). These include Australia, Japan, Peru, and Thailand. The selection is based not only on the fact that these economies are co-sponsors, but also because they actively engage in the APEC region and have implemented or in negotiation stage of FTAs/CEPAs with Indonesia. In addition, these economies were chosen to capture variation between developed and developing contexts, which may reflect different stages of policy design and implementation. This diversity helps ensure that the insights generated are relevant to the broader set of APEC member economies, making them appropriate and meaningful reference cases
In general, the study is expected to cover the following aspects:
- An overview of the use of services trade data in Indonesia and several economies in APEC region as a shared reference, particularly in the context of trade negotiations;
- The urgency and necessity of reliable data support for tradenegotiations;
- Current practices in Indonesia in utilizing services trade data and the identified needs to strengthen such data utilization;
- The need for sharing best practices among APEC economies on this issue; and
- Comparative insights into how partner economies utilize services trade data in assessing the liberalization of services sectors under FTAs/CEPAs (where possible).
- Recognizing the diverse socio-economic contexts within APEC, the study will also include a comparative analysis featuring case studies from at least three developed and developing economies, highlighting different approaches and challenges.
The report will be minimum 15 pages excluding annexes and structured to include an Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Discussion, and Conclusion. The findings of this study will be presented during the workshop and will serve as a foundational chapter for the final Best Practices Report (Output 3).
2) Workshop
A two-day Workshop on Sharing Best Practices for Assessing and Evaluating the Impact of FTAs on Services Trade will be organized in September 2026, conducted in-person in South Tangerang, Indonesia. The workshop will serve as a collaborative platform for trade policymakers, service industry representatives, trade negotiators, and academic experts from across APEC economies, with the expected number of participants up to 60 persons.
Building upon the findings of the Preliminary Study, the workshop will focus on sharing experiences and best practices in utilizing services trade data to evaluate the implementation and impact of services trade liberalization under FTAs/CEPAs. Presentations will be delivered by representatives from Indonesia and selected APEC economies, highlighting their respective approaches, challenges, and lessons learned.
Following the presentation sessions, participants will engage in in-depth discussions aimed at identifying:
- Relevant best practices that could serve as reference models within the APECregion;
- Possible actions to enhance data utilization or availability for assessing the impacts of services liberalization; and
- Strategies to develop a common understanding or shared practices for evaluating and discussing the impacts of services liberalization and related negotiations moving forward.
In line with APEC project implementation guidelines, the workshop will run for two full days to ensure full per diem eligibility for all sponsored participants and speakers. The detailed agenda and session structure will be provided in a subsequent update.
Below is the rough agenda for the two-days workshop: Day 1
09:30 - 10:00 Registration
10:00 - 10:10 Opening Session
10:10 - 10:40 Opening Remarks and Keynote Speech by the Director General of International Trade Negotiations, Ministry of Trade, Indonesia 10:40 - 10:55 Photo Session
10:55 - 11:10 Coffee Break
11:10 - 11:40 Presentation: Developments in Indonesia’s Services Trade Data (Central Bank/Statistics Bureau of Indonesia)
11:40 - 11:45 Summary from Moderator
11:45 - 13:30 Lunch Break
13:30 - 14:00 Presentation: Utilization of Services Trade Data to Support Negotiations (Ministry of Trade)
14:00 - 14:30 APEC Economies’ Sharing Experience: Expected to include the co-sponsoring economies of this project
14:30 - 15:00 APEC Economies’ Sharing Experience: Expected to include the co-sponsoring economies of this project
15:00 - 15:30 Coffee Break
15:30 - 16:30 Q&A and Discussion
16:30 - 16:45 Summary from Moderator
16:45 - 17:00 Day 1 Closing Session
Day 2
09:30 - 10:00 Registration
10:00 - 10:10 Opening Session
10:10 - 10:30 APEC Economies’ Sharing Experience: Expected to include the co-sponsoring economies of this project
10:30 - 11:00 APEC Economies’ Sharing Experience: Expected to include the co-sponsoring economies of this project
11:00 - 11:10 Coffee Break
11:10 - 11:40 Private Sector Perspective: Indonesia Services Dialogue (TBC)
11:40 - 11:45 Summary from Moderator
11:45 - 13:30 Lunch Break
13:30 - 14:00 International Organization Perspective (TBC)
14:00 - 14:30 APEC Economies’ Sharing Experience: ASEAN Member State (TBC)
14:30 - 14:35 Summary from Moderator
14:35 - 15:30 Q&A and Discussion
15:30 - 15:45 Coffee Break
15:45 - 16:15 Small Group Discussion on Adaptable Practices 16:15 - 16:45 Wrap-Up Session
16:45 - 16:55 Closing Session
16:55 - 17:00 Photo Session
3) Best Practices Report (APEC Publication)
Building upon the Preliminary Study and the discussions held during the Workshop, a Best Practices Report will be developed as the final output of this project. The report will consolidate findings from all project phases, integrating the analytical results of the preliminary study with the insights and conclusions drawn from workshop presentations and discussions.
The report, with a minimum length of 15 pages (excluding annexes), will:
- Summarize key findings and lessons learned from the project;
- Highlight best practices among APEC economies in evaluating the impact of services trade liberalization; and
- Present a set of recommendations for strengthening the use of data- driven and evidence-based approaches in assessing services trade outcomes.
The Best Practices Report aims to serve as a collective reference for APEC economies, supporting policymakers and negotiators in developing more informed, inclusive, and measurable strategies to evaluate and advance services trade liberalization across the region.
Outcome
1) Increse awareness and understanding among APEC economies of current practices, challenges, and opportunities in utilizing services trade data to support trade negotiations and assess services trade liberalization.
2) Strengthen capacity and knowledge of policymakers and relevant stakeholders across APEC economies through the sharing of experiences and best practices in evaluating the impact of FTAs/CEPAs on services trade, with the aim of supporting higher-quality cooperation efforts on services trade liberalization.
3) Enhance a common understanding or shared reference among APEC economies on approaches relevant to assessing the impacts of services trade liberalization.
Beneficiaries
Direct beneficiaries:
- Governments, who serve as regulatory bodies, policymakers, and negotiators, will benefit from better tools to assess the impact of services trade, enabling more informed and targeted policymaking. Access to data-driven measures and regional best practices will improve governance and policy effectiveness.
- Businesses, particularly in the services sector, will gain insights from comparable data across APEC economies, helping them understand market access, identify opportunities, and make strategic decisions, boosting competitiveness and innovation.
- Researchers and Academic Institutions will be able to conduct more accurate, policy- relevant studies, strengthening the evidence base and institutional capacity to support long-term growth in the services sector.
Indirect beneficiaries:
Services market: with more effective, data-driven trade policies enacted by governments, coupled with a more competitive business environment, generate significant downstream benefits. These could translate into a better consumer welfare through greater market competition, improved service quality, and price efficiencies.
