Apec trade meeting ends without joint statement, remains apart on Russia
- Japan, US sought to include expressions denouncing Russia’s invasion in their joint statement, but others, including Russia, opposed it
- Members agreed for a need to lower trade barriers and reaffirmed their commitment to realising an Apec-wide free trade pact by 2040
A meeting of trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific region ended on Sunday without issuing a joint statement due to differences over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Japan’s trade minister Koichi Hagiuda said the outcome of the two-day Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum meeting in Bangkok, which focused on how to promote economic growth in a post-Covid-19 world, should be reflected in a chairman’s statement.
Thai Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit, who chaired their discussions, told a press conference that they agreed on the need to lower trade barriers and reaffirmed their commitment to realising an Apec-wide free trade pact by 2040, despite the failure to find common ground over the war in Ukraine.
Japan and the United States had sought to include expressions denouncing Russia’s invasion in their joint statement, but others, including Russia, opposed it, according to officials.
“There were big differences when coordinating the wording over Russia among the member economies,” said Hagiuda, who condemned the invasion as a violation of international law during the meeting.
In protest against the invasion continuing for almost three months, the top representatives of five economies – Japan, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States – walked out when Maksim Reshetnikov, Russia’s economic development minister, delivered his remarks during the meeting.
Some members besides those five also indirectly criticised Russia by saying the war has led to soaring energy prices, according to Hagiuda.
