Representatives from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Sub-Committee on Standards and Conformance (SCSC) convened in Dalian, Liaoning province, on August 21-22 to address the harmonization of standards and regulatory practices, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and clean energy deployment. The meeting formed part of the broader Third APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM3) this year.

More than 70 delegates from APEC member economies, regional partnership organizations, and international standardization bodies took part in the plenary session, exchanging perspectives on key priorities for standards-related cooperation in the region. Discussions emphasized the growing need to establish regulatory frameworks and mutual recognition mechanisms to support the responsible adoption of AI technology and facilitate the transition toward sustainable energy solutions.

Byung Goo Kang, vice-chair of the APEC SCSC, highlighted the significance of emerging regulatory considerations surrounding AI, noting that economies must enhance information sharing on standards and conformity assessments related to AI products and compliance requirements. He called for efforts to reduce barriers that hinder the acceptance of testing reports and certifications across borders, underscoring the importance of building trust among member economies to promote seamless regulatory alignment.

Delegates reviewed reports from various regional partners and evaluated ongoing projects, while also considering new proposals aimed at advancing regional standardization and mutual recognition initiatives. Under the SOM3 framework, China hosted a series of high-level thematic seminars focusing on shared interests such as the silver economy, cross-border e-commerce, road transport, and voluntary sustainability standards, facilitating bilateral and multilateral consultations to harmonize regulatory approaches.

Anton Shalaev, head of Russia’s Federal Agency on Technical Regulating and Metrology, emphasized the necessity of developing unified rules and specific conformity assessment terms for emerging sectors like the bioeconomy and AI. He stressed that reducing technical barriers remains critical for unlocking the growth potential of the expansive APEC market.

Data from China’s State Administration for Market Regulation indicated that during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), China has implemented 14 cooperative projects under the SCSC, covering areas such as the digital economy, green transition, the silver economy, and food safety. Participants at the meeting reaffirmed that standards and conformity assessments function as vital “intangible infrastructure” that support trade and investment facilitation across the Asia-Pacific region by minimizing cross-border regulatory hurdles through cooperation and alignment.