Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr. Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II of Brunei Darussalam attended the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) Meeting which was held on 22 to 23 May 2025 in Suzhou, People’s Republic of China. The Meeting was preceded by sectoral APEC meetings including the APEC Second Senior Officials’ Meeting and APEC Women and Economy Forum.
The APEC MRT Meeting was chaired by His Excellency Wang Wentao, Minister of Commerce and the Secretary of the CPC Leadership Group of the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and attended by other Trade and Economic Ministers as well as representatives from APEC Economies.
In line with the 2026 APEC theme of “Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together”, Ministers, among others, reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening supply chain resilience in response to current global economic uncertainties and disruptions, as well as their support for collaboration to improve the WTO in pursuing meaningful reforms, acknowledging the agreed upon rules in the WTO are key to facilitating global trade. Ministers also underscored the importance of digitalisation and innovation in creating opportunities and promoting inclusive and sustainable growth across the region.
During the sessions, Yang Berhormat Dato Dr. Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II shared Brunei Darussalam’s perspectives which:
- reaffirmed strong support for a rules-based multilateral trading system, with the WTO at its core, while underscoring the importance of maintaining open, resilient and secure supply chains amid ongoing geopolitical and geo-economic uncertainties;
- highlighted the importance of advancing regional economic integration through Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation initiatives such as the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), while recognising frameworks including Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and Future for Investment and Trade Partnership as important building blocks for future economic cooperation; and
- emphasised the importance of strengthening digital connectivity, interoperable systems, e-customs, paperless trading and digital infrastructure and underscored the importance of harnessing digital innovation and green opportunities to promote sustainable growth, low-carbon transitions and resilient supply chains. Related to this, stronger collaboration among governments, businesses and regional partners is welcomed in areas such as technology transfer, skills development, innovation and sustainable infrastructure.
At the sidelines of the Meeting, Yang Berhormat Dato Dr. Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II also convened bilateral meetings with H.E. Grace Fu Hai Yien, Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations; H.E. Todd McClay, New Zealand’s Minister for Trade and Investment and Minister for Agriculture; and H.E. Horii Iwao, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, to discuss areas of mutual interest.
Also present at the Meetings were Yang Mulia Dayang Dr. Hajah May Fa’ezah binti Haji Ahmad Ariffin, Permanent Secretary (Economy, Trade and Industry) at the Ministry of Finance and Economy and other officials from the Ministry of Finance and Economy.
Ministers endorsed the 2026 APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Joint Statement which can be accessed here
Prepared by: International Affairs Division, Ministry of Finance and Economy.
Email: b2bhepa@mofe.gov.bn
Reference: KKWE/ADM/BHG/7
Date: 25 May 2026