Brief
APEC finance ministers warn persistent global imbalances threaten growth
Senior Pacific Rim finance officials highlighted trade imbalances and geopolitical risks in a joint statement in Hong Kong.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Senior finance officials from the 21‑member Asia‑Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum said on Wednesday that persistent global economic imbalances create risks to growth and stability, and pledged to improve coordination of economic policies.
The joint statement was issued after two days of meetings in Hong Kong, part of preparations for the APEC summit scheduled for next month in Shenzhen, China. The ministers emphasized the need to rebalance trade, noting that China’s trade surplus this year is expected to exceed the 2025 record of $1.2 trillion.
Chinese finance minister Lan Fo’an, chair of the meeting, said members had agreed to enhance cooperation and communication to address these risks. The statement also warned of geopolitical tensions and vulnerable supply chains as additional threats.
China’s customs agency reported a 24 % rise in trade with other APEC economies in the first three quarters of the year, driven by exports of high‑tech products such as electric vehicles and lithium‑ion batteries.
Key facts
- APEC finance ministers warned that global economic imbalances pose risks to growth and stability. (winnipegfreepress.com)
- The joint statement was released after two days of meetings in Hong Kong ahead of the Shenzhen summit. (winnipegfreepress.com)
- China’s trade surplus this year is expected to exceed the 2025 record of $1.2 trillion. (winnipegfreepress.com)
- China’s customs agency said trade with other APEC economies rose nearly 24 % in the first three quarters of the year. (winnipegfreepress.com)
Sources
- [1] winnipegfreepress.com — originally reported as “APEC finance ministers warn persistent global imbalances risk growth and stability”
