APECMinistersAgreeonDigitalTrade,AIandSupplyChainsinChinaTalks

APEC trade ministers have agreed on a range of issues in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou, including digital trade, AI cooperation, supply-chain resilience and a new services roadmap aimed at reducing barriers to services trade and supporting growth and jobs.

The consensus was reached at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting, held amid rising trade restrictions and geopolitical tensions weighing on global and regional growth.

In a joint statement following the conclusion of the two-day meeting on Saturday, trade chiefs stressed support for advancing regional and global trade, including ensuring the continued flow of goods and strengthening supply-chain resilience.

They also highlighted new growth drivers in digital trade, artificial intelligence (AI) and cross-border e-commerce, and adopted the APEC Roadmap for Innovative, Competitive and Resilient Services.

At a press briefing on Saturday, China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said officials reached broad consensus on cooperation in digital and green development and explored opportunities in AI-related trade and investment.

They reached new consensus on issues including cross-border data flows, digital trust and AI governance, and agreed to support World Trade Organization (WTO) e-commerce negotiations and advance implementation of the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement, said Lin Feng, director-general of the Ministry of Commerce’s department of international trade and economic affairs.

Economies also pledged to narrow the digital divide by improving digital infrastructure, skills and literacy, supporting small and midsize firms’ participation in digital platforms, and promoting inclusive use of AI technologies, Lin said.

The meeting brought together representatives of 21 APEC economies, alongside observers and officials from international organizations including the WTO and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

Contact editor Wang Xintong (xintongwang@caixin.com)