Biden, Xi to meet in Peru as PM arrives amid fears of Trump trade war
By David Crowe
Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet United States counterpart Joe Biden on Saturday in a bid to ease tensions between the two major powers on the sidelines of a regional summit dominated by concerns about a global trade war.
The Biden administration is hoping to use the meeting to break down Chinese trade rules that block American exports, but the talks are also expected to canvass the stated goal of incoming US president Donald Trump to impose 60 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese added his voice to calls for free and fair trade upon his arrival at the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation summit in the Peruvian capital of Lima, where Trump’s economic agenda overshadows the annual talks.
Albanese said he would make the case for trade, as he prepares for the two-day summit in Lima and possible one-on-one talks with other regional leaders.
But he continued to face taunts at home over his appointment of former prime minister Kevin Rudd as ambassador to the US two years ago, with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton saying it was a “question about the prime minister’s judgment” because of Rudd’s past criticisms of Trump.
With economists predicting a blow to global growth if Trump imposes hefty tariffs on China as promised, the annual APEC gathering is expected to negotiate a joint statement on open trade.
Xi and Biden have met twice since the latter became US president in 2021. Saturday’s talks will be their final meeting before Trump takes office on January 20.
A senior US official said the discussion would canvass trade, military co-operation, human rights and efforts to stop the narcotics trade, given the risk to America from cheap fentanyl manufactured in China.
“The president will also underscore his longstanding concern with [China’s] unfair trade policies and non-market economic practices, which have over time created an unlevel playing field for American workers,” the official told a White House media briefing.
But Chinese officials are describing their country as the biggest contributor to economic growth across the Asia-Pacific, tapping into concerns in the region about Trump’s stated plan for tariffs of 20 per cent on all countries and 60 per cent on China.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrives in Lima, Peru, for the APEC summit.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
“China is an engine and propeller for regional co-operation in the Asia-Pacific,” a Chinese foreign ministry official said ahead of Xi’s visit to Peru.
Albanese will meet Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Thursday morning, local time, and aims to talk to Xi at the summit, one year after the prime minister visited Beijing for a formal state visit.
Albanese arrived with his partner, Jodie Haydon, after leaving Sydney on Wednesday morning.
“This is about lifting Australia’s living standards by ensuring that we can continue to export to our region and the world,” he said of the summit.
Asked if he wanted APEC leaders to issue a unified statement in response to the prospect of higher tariffs under Trump, Albanese said he would make the case for open trade.
“Australia will always support free and fair trade – we’re a trading nation,” he said.
“One in four of Australia’s jobs is trade-dependent, and that will be a focus with the meetings that we will have over coming days.”
Albanese was joined by Agriculture Minister Julie Collins, who is at APEC in the hope of boosting food exports.
Global investors will attend a reception with Albanese on Thursday night, local time, and are expected to be assured that Australia will outpace the economic growth of other countries.
Albanese will tell the group that Australia has weathered the economic storm better than most, with inflation and energy prices coming down.
Guests at the reception are expected to include executives from BHP, Orica, Fortescue, Bechtel and Glencore.
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