Her office said this was the first time in the quarter-century of United Nations-sponsored climate negotiations that a host country had canceled so close to the event. For Mr. Trump and Mr. Xi, the meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation group was an opportunity to settle a monthslong fight over tariffs that has rippled across the global economy. The forum was considered a likely setting for Mr. Trump to sign an interim trade deal with China that would lower some of the tensions in a trade war that has battered stock markets and companies around the world. The trade deal, which is still being finalized, would prevent future tariff increases and lock in intellectual property protections in China, as well as ensure Chinese purchases of American agriculture. “As you know, we’re going to be in Chile together for a big summit,” Mr. Trump said on Oct. 11, about signing the accord.

Source: International New York Times October 30, 2019 15:10 UTC