China Objects to US Proposal for APEC Trade and Investment Policies -source.

According to a source informed on the discussions on Wednesday, China is opposing a proposal from the United States calling on members of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation to include sustainability and inclusion in their trade and investment policies.

The source stated that discussions on the matter were ongoing at the APEC meeting in San Francisco to develop language that all 21 group members could support.

Dubbed the “San Francisco Principles for Integrating Inclusivity and Sustainability into Trade and Investment Policy” by the Biden administration, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai expressed hope that the idea may still be approved at a plenary conference focusing on trade.

“All economies but one have supported the U.S.-led effort, so it is unclear if APEC will fulfill that mandate,” Tai stated. However, I believe economies will soon complete the San Francisco Principles.”

The Biden administration is pushing the idea that APEC economies expand opportunities for more people, especially underprivileged populations, and integrate clean energy and carbon emissions reduction goals into their development, growth, and trade policies. A few specifics of the U.S. proposal were made available.

Separately, Tai is attempting to negotiate with the European Union a green steel agreement that would penalize Chinese steelmakers due to their more significant carbon emissions.

China’s protests at the APEC meeting have come to light as Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden convened south of San Francisco for high-level discussions to reduce tensions between the two giants over artificial intelligence, drug trafficking, and military conflicts.