APEC Leaders Agree To Crack Down on Corruption

Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
November 24, 2004 

Declaring that "every nation is capable of fighting corruption...and passing new laws that reward enterprise from their people," President Bush joined other Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders on November 20 in launching the Santiago Commitment to Fight Corruption and Ensure Transparency and the APEC Course of Action on Fighting Corruption and Ensuring Transparency--an effort to reduce the cost of corruption to economies in the Asia-Pacific region and promote a culture of integrity and lawfulness.

According to the World Bank, corruption is the greatest obstacle to economic and social development, according to the World Bank. The direct costs of bribery alone to national economies are estimated to be over one trillion dollars each year.

The "Santiago Commitment and APEC Course of Action" requires member countries to:

1. Deny safe haven to officials and individuals guilty of public corruption, those who corrupt them, and their assets; 
2. Implement anticorruption policies and practices consistent with the UN Convention Against Corruption; 
3. Implement the APEC Transparency Standards, with particular emphasis on government procurement and customs procedures; 
4. Encourage collaboration to fight corruption and ensure transparency, including through cooperation with other multilateral and regional intergovernmental institutions; and 
5. Develop innovative training and technical assistance programs to fight corruption and ensure transparency.

In addition, President Bush and leaders from Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Japan, and Korea announced their commitment to help the developing economies of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation fight corruption.

The Anticorruption and Transparency ("ACT") Capacity-Building Program will include technical assistance to address key areas outlined in the Santiago Commitment and the APEC Anticorruption Course of Action. Workshops and training programs will be developed in investigation and prosecutorial techniques, judicial reform, anti-money-laundering, asset forfeiture and recovery, and the APEC Transparency Standards. An APEC website devoted to anticorruption public awareness and e-governance tools will be part of the APEC "ACT" Capacity-Building Program. Cooperation with multilateral banks and international organizations will support relevant activities in APEC developing economies.

In support of the APEC Leaders' commitment to fight corruption, the United States will contribute $2.5 million over four years to assist APEC efforts in promoting the rule of law and a culture of integrity.

The "Santiago Commitment and APEC Course of Action" is the latest in a series of efforts, led by President Bush and the United States, to implement a robust international transparency and anticorruption agenda, including:

• denying safe haven to corrupt officials;
• launching the Millennium Challenge Account that provides U.S. development assistance to those countries that fight corruption, rule justly, invest in their people, and encourage economic freedom;
• launching the G-8 Sea Island Fighting Corruption and Improving Transparency Initiative (promoting high standards of transparency in public financial management, procurement, the letting of public concessions, and the granting of licenses);
• leading international efforts to gain agreement on the United Nations Convention Against Corruption;
• strengthening the OECD monitoring of the Anti-Bribery Convention; and
• initiating and supporting the Global Forum on Fighting Corruption and Safeguarding Integrity process.