PAPUA NEW GUINEA

APEC summit to turn spotlight on Manus Island refugee controversy

November 18, 2018

Port Moresby hosts the 2018 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, with the Manus Island refugee controversy a potential distraction from the forum proceedings.

Papua New Guinea and Australia are members of APEC, the forum of 21 countries ringing the Pacific. Activists will use the presence of the world leaders and as many as 2,000 journalists among the thousands of visitors to spotlight Australia’s refugee policy. The country has been under fire for parking refugees in camps rather than admitting them to Australia. The Manus camps have been closed, but some 650 refugees remain on the island with nowhere to go.

Inside the summit, the argument about free trade is likely to be less one-sided than it was at APEC 2017 because United States President Donald Trump is not attending this year. As the other members restated their commitment to the principle of free trade at the 2017 event, Trump argued against it. He has shown no sign of backing down. China is expected to pick up the role of champion of free trade that was vacated by the United States.

Because of Trump’s absence, the 2018 summit statement is likely to be less guarded than last year’s final document. In 2017 it embraced free trade and the fight against protectionism – core reasons for APEC’s founding in 1989 – but the leaders agreed to address “unfair trade practices” and “market distorting subsidies.” According to Reuters, the language bore the imprint of Trump’s efforts to reshape the global trade landscape with his “America first” policy.

Cruise and naval ships are likely to be needed to accommodate some international delegations because of the shortage of accommodation for the thousands of visitors during the summit.

#22431 Updated: OCT 22 ON REFUGEE SITUATION AND TRUMP ABSENCE