President Donald Trump has said the US will no longer tolerate “chronic trade abuses”, in a defiant address at the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit in Vietnam.
APEC brings together 21 economies from the Pacific region – the equivalent of about 60% of the world’s GDP.
Mr. Trump said he would always put US interests first and Apec nations should “abide by fair reciprocal trade”.
In stark contrast, China’s Xi Jinping said globalization was irreversible and voiced support for multilateralism.
Mr. Trump is currently on a five-nation Asia tour, with China one of his stops.
Since taking office, President Trump has pursued his “America First” agenda and pulled the US out of the regional Trans-Pacific Partnership – a major trade deal with 12 Apec nations – arguing it would hurt US economic interests.
