Fri Nov 15 16:40:53 UTC 2024: ## Biden and Xi Meet Amidst Trump’s Looming Shadow at APEC Summit

**Lima, Peru – November 15, 2024** – President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima, Peru, under the looming shadow of Donald Trump’s impending second term. Their bilateral talks, expected to be their last as sitting leaders of the world’s largest economies, took place amidst significant diplomatic uncertainty.

President-elect Trump’s announced confrontational stance towards China, including threatened tariffs up to 60% on Chinese goods, casts a pall over the summit’s focus on trade and inclusive growth. This uncertainty extends beyond APEC, impacting the COP29 climate talks and the upcoming G20 summit.

The meeting comes as Trump prepares to replace Secretary of State Antony Blinken with Senator Marco Rubio, known for his hawkish views on China. Other APEC members, including Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia, and Indonesia, are also attending, while Russia’s Vladimir Putin is absent.

Trump’s “America First” agenda, characterized by protectionist trade policies and increased domestic fossil fuel extraction, threatens the alliances Biden has cultivated. Economists warn that Trump’s proposed tariffs could negatively impact not only the US and Chinese economies but also global markets.

Meanwhile, China’s continued expansion, including the recent inauguration of a Chinese-funded port in Chancay, Peru, and its growing influence in Latin America through the Belt and Road Initiative, are also points of concern. A senior US official warned Latin American nations to exercise vigilance regarding Chinese investment.

Biden also met with key US allies, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, announcing the creation of a secretariat to solidify their alliance. Trump’s threats extend beyond China, with proposed tariffs on Mexican goods also creating further instability. The summit unfolds against a backdrop of domestic unrest in Peru, where protests against crime and government neglect are underway.

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