Three signs from APEC that the U.S. and China remain far apart on trade

Key points

• China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao held a press conference on May 23, 2026, at the end of the APEC trade ministers' meeting in Suzhou, China.
• SUZHOU, China — Just over a week after the U.S. and Chinese presidents met in Beijing, the world's two largest economies are sending different messages about their priorities for Asia.
• First is tariffs.
• China's economy relies significantly on exports — and the free-flow trade — as it accounts for about 28% of the goods made globally, according to CNBC calculations of World Bank data.
• Beijing's statements on Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump's summit last week have noted how duties will remain lower for longer, while the U.S. did not mention tariffs.