Washington pushes ‘America First’ agenda in Apec talks ahead of Chinese leader’s visit

The United States has pledged to take an “America First” approach to the latest round of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation talks, which are taking place in China weeks before President Xi Jinping’s visit to America.

The US State Department said: “US leadership in Apec is a key dimension to pursuing America First policies that foster prosperity and advance economic growth in the United States and across the region by breaking down barriers for US business, boosting fair and reciprocal trade and supporting American job growth.”

It added that the delegates, led by Casey Mace, the senior official for Apec affairs, would seek to create more opportunities for American businesses in fields such as agriculture and fisheries, energy, transport, health and food security.

The US also pledged to push to boost services exports and supply-chain innovation, as well as leading discussions on trade and labour-related matters.

Trade is expected to be one of the main items on the agenda when Xi visits the US next month in the latest effort between the two countries to stabilise relations in the wake of last year’s tariff war.

Earlier this year, Xi hosted his US counterpart Donald Trump in Beijing, a trip that resulted in plans for US-China boards of trade and investment, although the latter has yet to get off the ground.

The meeting of Apec senior officials is the third of its kind this year and the largest yet, according to China’s foreign ministry.