Three signs from APEC that the U.S. and China remain far apart on trade

China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao held a press conference on May 23, 2026, at the end of the APEC trade ministers' meeting in Suzhou, China. CNBC | Evelyn Cheng SUZHOU, China — Just over a week after the U.S. and Chinese presidents met in Beijing, the world's two largest economies are sending different messages about their priorities for Asia. First is tariffs. …