As APEC fosters an environment that is market-driven and supported by innovation and the digital economy, the PSU develops work with recommendations to implement structural reforms and economic policies that promote innovation and improve productivity. We contribute to policy measures that build digital infrastructure, narrow the digital divide, and strengthen consumer and business trust in digital transactions.

The Policy Support Unit has produced the following projects and publications under the economic driver of Innovation and Digitalisation:

E-commerce

The Digital Transformation of Trade Facilitation in APEC (Policy Brief No. 70), 2026

Using AI to Power Up Efficient and Resilient Energy Systems (Policy Brief No. 67), 2025

Navigating Artificial Intelligence Landscape in APEC: Balancing Development and Oversight (Policy Brief No. 65), 2025

Promoting the Utilization of Paperless Trade Platforms in the Post COVID-19 Era, 2025

Reframing an Unfolding Canvas: Policy Approaches to Facilitate APEC’s Creative Economy amid Evolving Digital Technologies (Policy Brief No. 61), 2024

Digitalising Trade: The Role of Paperless Platforms (Policy Brief No. 59), 2024

Artificial Intelligence in Economic Policymaking (Policy Brief No. 52), 2022

Stepping Outside the Shadows: Informality and Digitalisation (Policy Brief No. 44), 2022

Enhancing Implementation of APEC Connectivity Blueprint in the Digital Era: Digital Connectivity for Stronger Recovery, 2022

Trade Networks amid Disruption: Promoting Resilience through Digital Trade Facilitation (Policy Brief No. 53), 2022

Digital Technology and Global Integration: Opportunities for Innovative Growth (Policy Brief No. 49), 2022

Resiliency in a Post-Pandemic APEC: Approaches to Driving Growth in Digital Services (Policy Brief No. 47), 2022

Big Data for the Labor Market: Sources, Uses and Opportunities (Issues Paper No. 13), 2021

Assessment of Capacity Building Needs to Support WTO Negotiation on Trade Related Aspects of E-commerce, 2020

Supporting MSMEs’ Digitalization Amid COVID-19 (Policy Brief No. 35), 2020

Fostering an Enabling Policy and Regulatory Environment in APEC for Data-Utilizing Businesses – Final Report, 2019

Globalization, Inclusion, and E-Commerce: APEC Agenda for SMEs (Policy Brief No. 20), 2018

Promoting E-commerce to Globalize MSMEs, 2017

Facilitating Digital Trade for Inclusive Growth: Key Issues in Promoting Digital Trade in APEC (Issues Paper No. 12), 2017

Facilitating Electronic Commerce in APEC: A Case Study of Electronic Certificate of Origin, 2011

Enabling Electronic Commerce: The Contribution of APEC’s Data Privacy Framework, 2011

Structural Reform

APEC Economic Policy Report 2025: Structural Reform to Increase Participation in the Formal Economy, 2026

Enhanced APEC Agenda for Structural Reform (EAASR) Final Review: Executive Summary, Conclusion and Moving Forward, 2025

APEC Economic Policy Report 2024: Structural Reform and Financial Inclusion, 2024

APEC Economic Policy Report 2023: Structural Reform and an Enabling Environment for Inclusive, Resilient and Sustainable Businesses, 2023

Enhanced APEC Agenda for Structural Reform (EAASR) Mid-Term Review Report, 2023

APEC Economic Policy Report 2022: Structural Reform and a Green Recovery from Economic Shocks, 2022

Proposed Indicators for Monitoring APEC Collective Progress on EAASR, 2021

APEC Economic Policy Report 2021: Structural Reform and the Future of Work, 2021

APEC Economic Policy Report 2020: Structural Reform and Women’s Empowerment, 2020

Renewed APEC Agenda for Structural Reform (RAASR) - Final Review Report, 2020

APEC Economic Policy Report 2019: Structural Reform and the Digital Economy, 2019

Structural Reform Measures to Improve Women’s Access to Labor Markets, Finance and Capital, 2019

APEC Economic Policy Report 2018: Structural Reform and Infrastructure, 2018

Renewed APEC Agenda for Structural Reform (RAASR) - Mid-Term Review Report, 2018

APEC Economic Policy Report 2017: Structural Reform and Human Capital Development, 2017

Indonesia: Structural Reform in Air Transport Service, 2017

New Zealand: Electricity Retail Services Market Reform, 2017

Japan: Financial Services Sector Reform, 2017

China: Structural Reform in the Retail Services Sector, 2017

Chinese Taipei: Telecommunications Testing and Certification Services Reform, 2017

Structural Reform and Services, 2017

APEC Economic Policy Report 2016: Structural Reform and Services, 2016

Exploring Quantitative Indicators for Effective Monitoring of APEC-wide Progress on Structural Reform under RAASR 2016-2020, 2016

Assessing the APEC New Strategy for Structural Reform (ANSSR) and Advancing the APEC Structural Reform Agenda Beyond 2015, 2015

Structural Reform for Resilient and Inclusive Growth (Policy Brief No. 13), 2015

Regulatory Reform: Case Studies on Improving the Business Environment for SMEs, 2015

Regulatory Reform - Case Studies on Promoting Innovation, 2014

Regulatory Reform - Case Studies on Green Investments, 2013

Drivers of Regulatory Reform in Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (Policy Brief No. 7), 2013

Implementation of Structural Reforms - Challenges and Good Practices (Policy Brief No. 4), 2012

Mapping Structural Reform (Policy Brief No. 1), 2011 

The Impacts and Benefits of Structural Reforms in the Transport, Energy and Telecommunications Sectors, 2011

Study on Good Regulatory Practices for Goods and Services Necessary or Desirable for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation, 2009

Handbook for "The APEC Voluntary Reviews of Institutional Frameworks and Processes for Structural Reform", 2009

The Links Between Trade, Investment and Structural Reform, 2008

Ease of Doing Business

APEC's Ease of Doing Business – Final Assessment 2015-2018, 2019

APEC’s Ease of Doing Business - Interim Assessment 2015-2017, 2018

APEC’s Ease of Doing Business - Interim Assessment 2015-2016, 2017

APEC’s Ease of Doing Business - Final Assessment 2009-2015, 2016

APEC’s Ease of Doing Business - Interim Assessment 2009-2014, 2015

APEC’s Ease of Doing Business - Interim Assessment 2009-2013, 2014

APEC’s Ease of Doing Business - Interim Assessment 2009-2012, 2013

APEC Economic Policy Report 2012: APEC’s Ease of Doing Business Interim Assessment 2009-2011, 2012 

APEC's Ease of Doing Business - Interim Assessment 2009 – 2010, 2011 

Other Topics

Progress Evaluation and Future Direction: An Analysis of the Cebu Action Plan (Policy Brief No. 58), 2024