URGENT: APEC backs free, open, nondiscriminatory trade, investment: statement

The leaders of Asia-Pacific economies on Friday reaffirmed their determination to deliver a free, open and non-discriminatory trade and investment environment at their annual meeting in San Francisco. In their joint statement issued after the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, the leaders from the group of 21 members also acknowledged the importance of the rules-based multilateral trading system and market-driven economic integration. While their statement made no reference to Russia's war on Ukraine or the Israel-Hamas conflict, the separately released chair's statement sa...