View original document

The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.

11/14/2023

Remarks by Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen at Press Conference Following the Conclusion of the APEC Fina…

Remarks by Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen at Press
Conference Following the Conclusion of the APEC Finance
Ministers’ Meeting in San Francisco, California
November 13, 2023

As Prepared for Delivery
Hello everyone and thank you for joining today.
Iʼve been very glad to chair the 2023 Finance Ministersʼ Meeting here in San Francisco over the
past two days. And the United States has been proud to host APEC throughout this year.
Hosting APEC is one of the many ways the Biden Administration is broadening and deepening
our economic ties across Asia-Pacific economies. APEC economies are at the center of the
global economy and our worldʼs economic future. The United Statesʼ engagement with other
APEC economies strengthens the U.S. economy, benefits American workers and firms, and
advances American interests. Itʼs bringing significant benefits to the region as well. And
cooperation across APEC economies is also key to tackling the challenges we all face,
including the urgent threat of climate change.
Over the past year, APEC members have advanced our shared vision of an open, dynamic,
resilient, and peaceful Asia-Pacific region through finance track engagements. And todayʼs
Finance Ministersʼ Meeting allowed us to cement progress on key priorities: from monitoring
macroeconomic and financial developments in the region and globally, to advancing our
approaches to regulation of digital assets, sustainable finance, and inclusive growth-oriented
policies consistent with what Iʼve called modern supply-side economics.
Iʼll start there. APEC members have a irmed a shared interest in pursuing policies that expand
the productive capacity of our economies while also achieving outcomes like reducing
inequality and protecting the environment. In the United States, weʼre doing this through a
historic trifecta of legislation: President Bidenʼs Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS Act, and
Inflation Reduction Act. Iʼm very pleased that other APEC economies recognize the potential
of this strategy and are pursuing similar policies, including ones that support research and
development, invest in infrastructure, and drive labor force participation.

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1906

1/3

11/14/2023

Remarks by Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen at Press Conference Following the Conclusion of the APEC Fina…

Weʼve also aligned on the importance of addressing global challenges. Our joint work centers
on unlocking the flow of sustainable finance, including through exploring ways to drive the
development of credible climate commitments and to create e ective and high integrity
voluntary carbon markets. We also agree that engagement with the private sector is critical,
as is engagement with international financial institutions. The Biden Administrationʼs e orts
to accelerate the transition to a net-zero economy range from our launch of the Principles for
Net-Zero Financing and Investment, to our call to evolve the multilateral development banks,
to our support for the transition to clean energy in economies including Indonesia and
Vietnam through Just Energy Transition Partnerships. Our discussions have revealed the ways
other APEC members are also pursuing meaningful work.
There is also commitment to continued work on the responsible development of digital
assets, where many APEC economies are leading the way. We see increasing adoption of
digital asset technologies across the region and note their potential to increase financial
inclusion and reduce the cost of cross-border transactions. We also recognize that digital
asset technologies carry risks, however, and appreciate the need for proper regulation and
other policies to manage those risks.
Of course, chairing the APEC Finance Ministersʼ Meeting is only one aspect of the United
Statesʼ much broader commitment to deepening our engagement across the Asia-Pacific
region. As one example, Treasury is actively engaged in the ongoing work to reach a
substantial conclusion of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. This would be a monumental
achievement for IPEF members, addressing issues from climate change to supply chain
security. And since IPEF members collectively account for 40 percent of global GDP, it would
be significant for the global economy as well.
Responsibly managing the U.S.-China economic relationship has also been a key priority
throughout my time in San Francisco. As you know, I met with Vice Premier He Lifeng, my
Chinese counterpart, here last week. And I had a productive meeting with Chinaʼs new Finance
Minister, Lan Foʼan, this week. President Biden and I believe strongly in advancing the values
we share with our allies and partners, in the Asia-Pacific and beyond, while also pursuing a
healthy and stable economic relationship with China. Going forward, we hope to build on the
foundation weʼve laid to further deepen communication, stabilize the relationship, and make
progress on key policy issues. There is hard work ahead of us, but I believe our engagements
here have moved us along the right path.

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1906

2/3

11/14/2023

Remarks by Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen at Press Conference Following the Conclusion of the APEC Fina…

As the United States nears the end of a productive APEC host year, I am impressed by all
weʼve collectively accomplished across our priority areas. We congratulate Peru on its
upcoming host year and look forward to supporting its work. And through APEC and
otherwise, the United States will remain committed to deepening our economic ties with the
Asia-Pacific. Advancing our shared vision is crucial to the success of Asia-Pacific economies,
and it supports jobs, growth, and resilience at home in the United States as well.
Iʼll take your questions.

###

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1906

3/3