Apec summit ends without agreement as US and China’s deep divisions over trade emerge
- What can I do, asks summit host as he points to clashes between ‘two big giants in the room’
- Key area of contention thought to be US demand for World Trade Organisation reforms
The annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit ended without agreement on a joint communique for the first time in its history on Sunday as the escalating rivalry between the United States and China dominated proceedings.
The impasse emerged a day after Chinese President Xi Jinping and US Vice-President Mike Pence blamed their rivals in the continuing trade war in back-to-back speeches.
Sunday’s dramatic conclusion was foreshadowed by accusations that Chinese officials had tried to strong-arm officials in Papua New Guinea, which was hosting the event, into issuing a statement that fitted what Beijing wanted. The Chinese vigorously denied the claims.
When asked about the impasse, Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said: “You know the two big giants in the room, so what can I say?”
Instead of issuing a document that all 21 participants could agree on, O’Neill said he would issue a “chair’s statement” reflecting the issues the participants did agree upon.