Singapore, Chile and New Zealand started the ball rolling in 2005 while Brunei joined a year later, forming what is known as the P-4
Australia and Peru just announced that they would join the United States in expanding the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership in March next year in Singapore . Early in September, the US signalled its intention to join.
The enlargement of P-4 or P-7 was announced on the final day of the meeting of Apec mininsters, providing a big boost to the 21-member grouping to free up trade.
Another changes - the revolving door policy used to fill the job of Apec director will stop in 2010. An executive director will be hired to serve a three-year term. The current Apec chief is Mr Juan Carlos Capunary of Peru
Singapore will assume the chairmanship of Apec next year and Mr Michael Tay ( formerly Singapore ambassador to Russia) will take over as director, effectively becoming the last person to fill the post.
