The rising conflict between the US and China, who are currently engaged in a tit-for-tat trade war, played out in the room during the APEC Leaders Meeting in Port Moresby on Sunday afternoon (Sunday evening NZT).

Issues of trade – particularly reform of the World Trade Organisation, along with tariffs, intellectual property and artificial intelligence - are understood to have been the sticking points.

While all 21 leaders agreed on the majority of the leaders’ communique, there were a few paragraphs the US and China would not budge on.

This is the first time a joint communique will not be delivered by the APEC leaders since the practice began.

Instead, Papua New Guinean Prime Minister Peter O’Neill – who is the chair – will issue a chairman’s statement.  Continue to read the full article>