Nov 18, 2018 - Economy & Business

Asia-Pacific summit marred by U.S.-China tensions

Pence

Photo: James D. Morgan/Getty Images for Carnival Australia

For the first time in 29 years, the U.S. and China failed to reach a closing declaration at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, underscoring the severity of tensions between the world's two largest economies, reports AP.

The big picture: During the two-day summit in Papua New Guinea, Vice President Mike Pence — attending in place of President Trump — repeatedly criticized China for its hostile trade practices and warned developing nations of falling into a "debt trap" through China's generous infrastructure loans. Chinese President Xi Jinping, meanwhile, used his speech to condemn protectionism and unilateralism in a slight to the Trump administration. Trump and Xi are expected to meet at the G-20 in Buenos Aires later this month amid their ongoing trade war and the Trump administration's governmentwide effort to paint China as a bogeyman.

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