Overview
- The Gyeongju Declaration reaffirms that robust trade and investment are vital to regional growth and stresses benefits for all.
- Unlike recent years, the statement omits explicit references to the WTO or multilateralism, signaling strains in the trade consensus.
- Leaders adopted separate outcome documents on artificial intelligence and demographic change, APEC’s first formal endorsements in these areas.
- South Korea handed the chair to China as Xi Jinping announced Shenzhen will host APEC 2026; Donald Trump left early and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent attended the closing.
- The summit followed Trump–Xi talks that produced a provisional trade truce that dialed back earlier steps, with key details left for later discussions.