In a significant move towards fostering global economic cooperation, most Asia-Pacific countries are actively pursuing free and open trade, a high-ranking official from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) secretariat recently affirmed. This drive for consensus comes even as U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs cast a long shadow over the forum’s annual summit.
Carlos Kuriyama, Director of the Policy Support Unit, expressed confidence in an interview with Reuters that the summit would indeed yield a joint declaration. He highlighted the extensive efforts being made by all member nations, including the United States, to achieve this common goal.
“Many APEC members continue advocating for free trade,” Kuriyama stated. “We heard some Presidents and Prime Ministers, some economic leaders, do that earlier on [at the forum].”
The interview took place during the annual meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea, following the first session of the two-day summit involving leaders from its 21 member economies.
“You can see that most APEC members are really going in that direction of free and open trade,” Kuriyama elaborated, pointing to a recently upgraded trade pact between China and the ASEAN bloc of Southeast Asian nations as an example.
The U.S. delegation at the APEC summit was led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Former President Donald Trump, known for policies that often prioritize trade barriers and bilateral agreements, had departed the Asian country earlier after securing trade deals with South Korea and China. This backdrop highlights Beijing’s ongoing efforts to position itself as a reliable advocate for free and open trade, a role traditionally held by Washington for decades.
Kuriyama acknowledged that Trump’s trade deals, by potentially reducing trade barriers and policy uncertainty, do contribute positively to APEC’s objectives. He noted that the bloc, which represents 61% of global GDP, is projected to see economic growth of 3.1% this year and 2.9% next year.
Regarding the prospects of a joint declaration, Kuriyama emphasized the strong momentum and the dedication of all delegations “working around the clock” to finalize it.
He further added that the U.S. is engaging “very actively” with all members to find common ground for adopting a joint statement and launching new initiatives, echoing previous U.S. comments about its “strong and robust” participation.
Despite these efforts, Kuriyama conceded that achieving consensus is exceptionally challenging in the current global trade environment marked by weakening multilateralism. This complexity, he believes, is precisely why like-minded countries are forming smaller groups to advance their agendas. Nevertheless, he stressed that APEC, as a non-binding, member-driven forum, remains a crucial platform for nations to engage in dialogue and find solutions in a more relaxed setting.