Xi Jinping Steers Trade Agenda at Pacific Rim Summit

Xi Jinping led discussions at the Pacific Rim summit in South Korea, aiming to position China as a key advocate for free trade amidst global tensions. Despite meeting with Japan's new leader and Canadian Prime Minister, his ambitions face skepticism due to China's assertive regional policies and trade challenges.

China's President Xi Jinping assumed a central role at the Pacific Rim leaders' summit in South Korea, leveraging a recent trade truce with the United States to promote China's image as a steadfast proponent of open commerce.

As many nations harbor concerns about China's regional influence and its trade practices, Xi's meetings with leaders, including Japan's Sanae Takaichi and Canada's Mark Carney, aimed to address these worries while advancing bilateral relations.

Meanwhile, the United States, represented by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, defended its trade policies as a strategic rebalance, while South Korea and Taiwan forged their own trade agreements in a shifting global landscape.