APEC SUMMIT IN DANANG REDEFINES TRADE GEOPOLITICS IN ASIA

The APEC Leaders' summit in Danang, Vietnam, last week crystallized the new geopolitics of trade in Asia as the three largest economies redefined their roles. The United States, criticized for abandoning multilateralism, is shifting toward unilateral enforcement while failing in bilateral negotiations. China continues knitting the region together through infrastructure finance but lacks genuine support for liberalization, while Japan rescues the TPP to encourage the US return to regional diplomacy. These transitions signal a major flux in Asia-Pacific trade geopolitics as all three powers adopt new strategic positions.