China Mulls Joining Trade Pact Dumped by Trump

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China will consider joining a free trade pact once championed by the U.S. but abandoned by Donald Trump, President Xi Jinping said, as Beijing increasingly seeks to influence the global rules of commerce.

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is an updated version of a giant deal originally backed by former U.S. president Barack Obama as an effort to counter China's rising might in Asia. 

Trump pulled out of it after winning the presidency in 2016 as he turned away from what he viewed as unfavorable multilateral deals, but 11 countries eventually agreed to sign the new version. 

Addressing the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, Xi said the grouping "must continue to promote regional economic integration and establish an Asia-Pacific free trade zone at an early date".

China "will actively consider joining" the CPTPP, he said, according to Chinese state media.

Trump attended this year's virtual summit, the first time he has participated since 2017, as he continues to challenge his election defeat to Joe Biden.

Xi's comments came just days after Beijing and 14 other countries signed what will be the world's biggest trade deal, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

That deal, which comprises 30 percent of the world's total economic output and excludes the United States, was viewed as a major coup for China at a time Washington is retreating.

Singapore-based international trade expert Deborah Elms said if China did join the CPTPP, it could encourage others to follow.

"If Xi's statement of interest is pushed forward in the coming weeks and months, it will, of course, lead to a lot of questions from current members, prospective members and others that are not thinking of CPTPP membership at all," said Elms, executive director of the Asian Trade Center.

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Thumb chrisrushlau over 3 years

"The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is an updated version of a giant deal originally backed by former U.S. president Barack Obama as an effort to counter China's rising might in Asia."
AFP is trying to be politic. China was excluded from Obama's league. He said in the Financial Times, "Why should China make the rules? We should make the rules." Obama may have believed the pact was a military one. He left details to trusted lieutenants.