As Trump skips APEC, China's Xi fills the void with message on trade

On Halloween, China and the US vied for influence in the Asia-Pacific, with Xi and Trump attending economic summits. China positioned itself as a stable free trade partner, while the US leaned towards protectionism. The US skipped the main APEC summit, marking a shift from its past role. China signed an upgraded free trade agreement with ASEAN, while the US' deals included tariff threats. China's relationship-building efforts may yield broader, lasting impacts than the US's limited agreements. Both superpowers are competing for the region's loyalty, with China aiming to shape supply chains and economic partnerships, and countries cautious about China's political agenda. The Daily News Now! — Every city. Every story. AI-powered. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.