Trump’s Future Role Looms Over Asia-Pacific Summit in Peru

During his Peruvian trip, Xi is also scheduled to attend the 24th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in capital Lima.

Trump ramped up his opposition to the North American Free trade agreement and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) during his run-off for the Republican nomination, and during clashes with Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Duterte will be in Group 4, along with leaders of Japan, Mexico and Singapore.

Top world leaders will meet this week to chart a future for free trade – nearly a dirty word in a world upended by Donald Trump’s victory in the United States presidential election.

Trump’s win means free trade is “in trouble”, said Robert Lawrence, a trade expert at Harvard University.

There is no question that protectionism would harm Asia and do no good for America, either.

“The Trump Administration will reverse decades of policies that have pushed jobs out of our country”. The hope is that, along with an approach to the USA, political leaders from Asian countries, including China, will speak frankly about how to maintain growth and develop a more open economic system.

New Zealand has other irons in the fire. He will have a stopover in Auckland, New Zealand before proceeding to Lima, avoiding transiting through the US.

It is also the last Apec for Obama, often the subject of ire by the foul-mouthed Mr. Duterte, who has repeatedly expressed anti-American sentiment and his desire to pivot to China and Russian Federation, upending traditional power structures and geopolitical alliances in the South China Sea. He could be a leader who takes a pragmatic, deal-making approach.

The delegation will be led by Minister of Economic Affairs Lee Chih-kung and National Development Council Minister Chen Tain-jy.

In the margins of the APEC meeting, Mr McClay will meet with some of his trade counterparts to discuss wider trade issues, including on RCEP and TPP.

Raffo said if someone did not like the idea, they would be left out.

That has likely changed the tone and the agenda of a meeting that was expected to be part of a valedictory tour for U.S. President Barack Obama. Kuczynski also chose China as the destination of his first overseas visit after assuming office, which reflects the sound development of bilateral ties.

Those who are paid to make sense of global strategy for governments have very few points of reference to help their leaders, and it is clear that many are relying on insights no more sophisticated than the rest of us – internet and television viewings of Mr Trump’s campaign speeches.