The 33rd Session of Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) Standing Committee was held on 23 to 25 September of 2009, in Bangkok. 6 member countries, China, Bangladesh, India, Republic of Korea, Lao People's Democratic Republic and Sri Lanka, sent delegations to this Session. Substantial progress was made at the fourth-round tariff concession negotiation; consensus over the three framework agreements respectively on service trade, investment, trade facilitation was reached; in-depth consultations was made over non-tariff measures and rules of origin, all of which laid a solid foundation for the holding of the Third Session of Ministerial Council of Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement.

The Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA), previously named the Bangkok Agreement, was signed in 1975 as an initiative of ESCAP, is a preferential tariff arrangement that aims at promoting intra-regional trade through exchange of mutually agreed concessions by member countries. Through unremitting efforts of the member countries over the years, cooperation under the framework of APTA has been increasingly strengthened and economic and trade relations have become more and more close. At present, the member countries are pressing on the fourth round negotiation of APTA, aiming at the dual objectives of deepening tariff concessions and expanding negotiation fields.