Apec trade conflict disappointing — PM

WELLINGTON: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is describing the trade spat between the US and China that led to a failure to produce an Apec consensus as ‘‘disappointing’’.

Apec ended in controversy on Sunday after Chinese officials reportedly forced their way into the office of Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato to discuss the wording of the Apec communique.

China dismissed the report as ‘‘malicious rumours’’ while Mr Pato said the report was exaggerated, and the Chinese did not push their way into the room.

The dispute was mainly over a sentence in the draft communique that read: ‘‘We agreed to fight protectionism, including all unfair trade practices.’’

China reportedly refused to agree to the sentence as it amounted to singling out Chinese trade practices.

It was the first time in Apec’s 29year history that a communique was not issued.

Speaking in Auckland yesterday alongside Chilean President Sebastian Pinera, Ms Ardern said the controversy was a reflection of ‘‘differences in the international trade environment’’.

‘‘It is fair to say it was disappointing that we were unable to have a communique issued at the conclusion of the Apec meeting . . . but it shouldn’t detract from the areas of substantive agreement.’’

New Zealand has joined Australia, the United States, Japan, and Papua New Guinea in a $1.7 billion project to bring electricity to most of the country.

New Zealand is contributing about $20 million, much of which will be in expertise.

Ms Ardern said Papua New Guinea had done a ‘‘very good’’ job in hosting the event and Pacific leaders used it to press climate change issues to world leaders.

‘‘My sense is that that really resonated with Apec leaders.’’

During the summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping and US Vicepresident Mike Pence made competing cases about trade, attacking each other’s positions.

Mr Xi met leaders of seven Pacific Island countries on the summit sidelines in a bid to strengthen trade and tourism, while the US said it would join Australia in developing a naval base in PNG, a move seen to counter China’s influence.

Mr Pence said the base would help ‘‘protect sovereignty and maritime rights in the Pacific islands’’, and later said he was prepared to ‘‘more than double’’ the tariffs imposed on Chinese goods.

Ms Ardern noted even though a communique was not released, a chairman’s statement from Apec is expected to be issued. — NZME