The Asia Pacific Region in the Global Economy

Originally published in 1996, The Asia Pacific Region in the Global Economy is the seventh title in the Investment in Canada Research Series, reissued in 2019. This volume looks at international trade as the lifeblood of the Canadian economy. Exports and imports of goods and services presently represent close to 85 percent of Canada's real GDP, and their importance in the Canadian economy has been increasing very rapidly. Trade flows also impact the Canadian economy through their influence on investment and technology flows. Canada's international commerce has been dominated by the United States. Canada could benefit a great deal by developing stronger investment and trade links with non-U.S. countries. The greatest opportunities for this diversification are in the Asia Pacific Region: by the year 2000, this region is expected to account for over 25 percent of world GDP. The 14 research papers in this volume fully examine the Asia Pacific opportunities and challenges from a Canadian perspective. They cover a wide spectrum of economic growth issues ranging from trade and investment, to environment, tourism and immigration. Other papers look at the implications of policy developments in the region for Canada's commercial and innovation policies.