U.S. Chamber Chairman, President to Advance Trade at APEC Meetings in Shanghai

WASHINGTON, D.C. – United States Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board Steve Van Andel and President and CEO Thomas Donohue will represent the nation's largest business federation and advance the group's free trade and economic recovery agenda at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in Shanghai, China from October 17-20.

The meetings, which will feature a scheduled appearance by President George W. Bush, are expected to draw a wide range of government and business leaders from the 21 economies that comprise APEC and account for 44 percent of world trade and over $18 trillion in GDP. Donohue and Van Andel are scheduled to meet and participate in programs with Mexican President Vicente Fox, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, Secretary of State Colin Powell and senior Chinese officials, among others.

"We're going to assure Asia-Pacific leaders that the U.S. economy is fundamentally strong and can quickly recover, despite the September 11 atrocities," Donohue said. "APEC members can help by reaffirming their commitment to reducing trade barriers, launching a new round of trade talks, promoting domestic measures to spur economic growth and reconfirming their support for President Bush's campaign against global terrorism."

Van Andel, who is also Chairman of Alticor, Inc., the parent company of Amway, said, "There has never been a more important time for the nations bordering the Pacific to move toward more free and open trade. China's impending entry into the World Trade Organization, in particular, presents entrepreneurs throughout the region with tremendous new business opportunities in the world's most populous nation."

The Chamber leaders will begin their trip in Hong Kong, where they will meet with top government and business leaders. On October 16, Donohue will speak to the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong on economic developments and prospects since the September 11 terrorist attacks.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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