Asia-Pacific trade ministers mull pandemic, recovery

Trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific are discussing ways to build back better from the pandemic, as host New Zealand pushes to drop tariffs on vaccines and other items needed to fight the virus

BANGKOK -- Trade ministers from the Pacific Rim were discussing ways to build back better from the pandemic in an online meeting Saturday hosted by New Zealand. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum has long focused on dismantling trade barriers. The meeting of its trade ministers was convened virtually, given the travel restrictions prevailing in the region as coronavirus outbreaks flare in many countries still struggling to obtain and deploy enough COVID-19 vaccines. On the agenda was a statement on aiding the movement of essential goods needed to fight the pandemic, in line with global trade rules that have been strained in recent years, especially during the administration of President Donald Trump who favored striking trade deals with individual countries. The trade ministers attending Saturday's meeting conferred with business leaders on Friday on ways to better manage the health and economic crisis brought on by the pandemic.