Marcos: Trump and Xi Jinping meeting to color APEC summit

MANILA, Philippines — The meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will color the entire Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit (APEC), President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. predicted on Thursday, October 30.

Trump and Xi met in South Korea to discuss the trade issues between their two countries. The US imposed a tariff of 57% on Chinese goods coming into the former’s country, which was later reduced to 47% after the meeting. Details from the two leaders’ meetings are still being released.

“We have to see what the agreements will be coming out of these meetings between President Xi and President Trump,” Marcos told his ministers in a departure statement before heading to South Korea for the APEC meet.

“Those will certainly color everything that we will be talking about in this APEC because the agreements or the arrangements that are made between two of the largest economies of the world will certainly affect every single citizen of the world,” he added.

The Philippine president said that this APEC meeting will certainly be different from the ones prior, given the economic and political climate set by the two countries.

“The world is watching and waiting, as we are,” Marcos said.

The US tariffs have sent shockwaves across the global economy, upending long-established trade markets.

The Philippines—a longtime ally of the US—has a 19% tariff on the country. The country’s economic managers have stated that negotiations are still ongoing with the US.

Marcos has his own agenda in the upcoming meeting. Hoping to still advance the country’s image to potential investors despite the ongoing corruption scandal, Marcos will deliver a special speech at the APEC CEO Summit, where he will speak to some of the top business leaders in the Asia-Pacific region.

“I intend to showcase the Philippines’ commitment to fostering economic partnerships and promoting a favorable business climate, aligned with our government’s vision of building a strong, innovation-driven economy,” Marcos said.