PORT MORESBY – Twenty-one Asia Pacific leaders on Sunday wrapped up their two-day regional summit without issuing the traditional joint statement amid the escalating trade tension between the United States and China.
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation economic leaders reportedly failed to agree on the “leaders’ declaration” amid reported differences on some trade issues. Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neil was instead designated to issue a chairman’s statement at the end of the summit here.
“You know the two big giants in the room. What can I say?” O’Neill said during an interview with journalists at the closing of the summit when asked about the contending APEC members.
But O’Neill claimed that the disagreement among APEC leaders on some trade issues, particularly on the role of the World Trade Organization, was not limited to the United States and China.
“Not only US and China but there are also other members who expressed opinion about how we should structure wording that is calling for reforms at the World Trade Organization,” he said.
“APEC has got no charter over the World Trade Organization. That is a fact. Those matters can be raised at the World Trade Organization,” he added.
O’Neill said he was not disappointed with the non-issuance of the APEC joint declaration. He said the APEC chairman’s statement, which will be issued later Sunday, would still reflect the “the statement of consensus that has been agreed on by the leaders.” (Genalyn D. Kabiling)