Big Take Asia How APEC Become a Battleground for US-China Influence
5 snips
Nov 4, 2025 Adam Farrar, a senior geoeconomics analyst for Asia-Pacific at Bloomberg, delves into the intricate dynamics of the APEC summit, revealing how Asian nations are balancing the influence of the U.S. and China. He discusses the shifting relevance of multilateral forums, the scars of past U.S. trade tensions, and how Xi Jinping is positioning China as a stable economic partner. Farrar also highlights how Asia navigates these pressures, assessing the implications of recent bilateral meetings and the fragile truce between Trump and Xi.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
APEC's Value Is In Convening Leaders
- APEC's policy influence has waned, but its convening power remains valuable for diverse leaders and businesses.
- Adam Farrar says smaller economies especially benefit from bilateral meetings and Taiwan's inclusion.
Taiwan Gains Access Through APEC
- Taiwan's presence at APEC gives it crucial access to senior officials despite lacking leader-level representation.
- Adam Farrar notes this access allows Taiwan to hold bilateral meetings important for its international engagement.
Trade Scars Still Shape Alliances
- U.S. trade scars with allies run deep due to past tariff battles and perceived broken commitments.
- Farrar says recent meetings improved tone but didn't erase underlying trust issues.