China applies to join Pacific trade pactCOMPLICATED AFFAIR: Beijing will need to negotiate with incumbent members Japan, Australia and Canada, with which it has fraught diplomatic and trade tiesBloombergBeijing has applied to join an Asia-Pacific trade pact once pushed by the US as a way to isolate China and solidify AmeriFcan dominance in the region. China is the second country to apply to join the 11-nation deal, after the UK asked to become a member earlier this year. However, the Chinese application would complicate that as Beijing opposes Taiwan joining any international organization or group. Still, China last week publicly lobbied Canberra for its support to join the deal. However, the Biden administration has not announced any concrete trade policies for the region, although there are reports it is discussing a digital trade deal covering Asia-Pacific economies.

Source: Taipei Times September 17, 2021 15:56 UTC