APEC Trade Ministers Omit Protectionism Pledge in Statement
- Ministers seek to remove barriers to trade, investment
- Earlier G-7, G-20 meetings pared wording against protectionism
Trade ministers attend a press conference during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible For Trade (APEC MRT 23) meeting in Hanoi on May 21,
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Asia-Pacific trade ministers issued a diluted “actions” statement after a weekend meeting in Vietnam, suggesting further pressure from the U.S. to avoid explicit pledges to combat protectionism.
The statement came after a dispute over wording, particularly whether to include language about protectionism. Instead, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation document focused on issues like regulation and red tape.