APEC Summit 2026 is the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, set for November 18–19, 2026, in Shenzhen, China, where 21 member economies meet under host and chair Xi Jinping. The White House confirmed on November 13 that Trump will hold a bilateral meeting and working lunch with Xi on November 19 and then join the first-ever Trump-Putin-Xi trilateral meeting, while the US-China trade truce runs to January 10.
APEC Summit 2026 – Introduction
The APEC Summit 2026 opens in Shenzhen on November 18, and it now carries more weight than any APEC meeting in years. China hosts the 33rd Economic Leaders’ Meeting, and Xi Jinping chairs it. The White House says Donald Trump will meet Xi on Thursday, November 19, then sit down with Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in the first three-way meeting of the three leaders. The trilateral session will be the last event of Trump’s Asia trip. Trump also stops at a Southeast Asian summit in the Philippines first.
APEC matters to US households and firms because its 21 member economies bought more than 55% of American goods exports in 2025, worth about $1.2 trillion. Seven of the top ten US trading partners belong to the group. This report covers the date, venue, members, leaders, agenda and trade numbers behind the APEC Summit 2026. Each section gives one chart, one table and a plain breakdown of the data. All figures are current as of November 14, 2026, and several plans can still change before leaders arrive.
Interesting Facts About APEC Summit 2026
APEC SHARE OF THE WORLD
GDP | ███████████████████████████████████████████████████ 61
Trade | █████████████████████████████████████ 47
Population | ████████████████████████████ 38
| Fact | Confirmed 2026 Data |
|---|---|
| Event | 33rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting |
| Dates | November 18–19, 2026 |
| Location | Shenzhen, Guangdong, China |
| Host and chair | China; Xi Jinping chairs |
| Member economies | 21 |
| Theme | Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together |
| CEO Summit | November 17–18, about 1,000 attendees |
| Trump attendance | Confirmed by the White House on November 13 |
| Trump-Xi bilateral | Thursday, November 19, with a working lunch |
| Trump-Putin-Xi meeting | November 19, the first trilateral of the three leaders |
| Putin attendance | Kremlin says Putin will attend |
| Taiwan envoy | Stan Shih, Acer founder |
| Trade truce end date | January 10, formalized in early November |
Source: White House statements reported by ABC News and Bloomberg, November 13, 2026; U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); APEC Secretariat; Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government; Nikkei Asia; Reuters and CNN reporting, November 2026.
The chart shows why the forum draws attention. The 21 economies produce about 61% of world GDP, carry about 47% of world trade and hold about 38% of the world’s people. The table lists the confirmed logistics. The 33rd meeting runs two days in Shenzhen, and the CEO Summit starts one day earlier with about 1,000 government and business figures. China chairs through Xi.
The last rows changed since September. The White House, not just Trump’s social media, now confirms his attendance and a November 19 schedule. The Kremlin has said publicly that Putin will attend. Taipei named Stan Shih as its envoy. The trade truce ends January 10, and China formalized its two-month pause on rare earth export curbs on November 9. The theme frames China’s push on openness, innovation and cooperation.
Trump Putin Xi Trilateral Meeting 2026: The First Three-Way Summit
TRILATERAL MEETING FACTS
Leaders in the meeting | ███ 3
Separate Trump-Putin talks | 0
Days from announcement | ██████ 6 (Nov 13 to Nov 19)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date | Thursday, November 19, 2026 |
| Place | Shenzhen, on the sidelines of the APEC leaders’ meeting |
| Announced by | White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales, November 13 |
| Separate Trump-Putin bilateral | None planned, according to reports |
| Topics named by the White House | Nuclear arms reduction and denuclearization; Iran |
| Ukraine | White House says it will not be the focus |
| Kremlin position | Aide Yuri Ushakov says settlement talks will continue |
| Position of Xi (via Germany’s president) | Little interest in discussing Ukraine; Europe should lead |
Source: White House statements reported by Bloomberg Law, ABC News and Yahoo News; Kyiv Post citing Interfax; Reuters; November 12-14, 2026.
The White House announced the first-ever Trump-Putin-Xi trilateral on November 13, six days before the meeting. Trump says he wants to discuss denuclearization, and the White House also named Iran. It said the session will not focus on Ukraine. China has shown little appetite to limit its nuclear stockpile, which is far smaller than those of the United States and Russia, so analysts see a formal deal as unlikely.
Moscow frames the meeting differently. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said discussion of Ukraine settlement issues will continue when Trump and Putin meet in Shenzhen. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Xi has no interest in discussing the war, which he believes Europe should handle. Kyiv had warned against a Russia-China-US summit earlier. Officials have not described any planned outcome document for the trilateral.
Trump Asia Trip Schedule 2026: Philippines, Shenzhen and the Trilateral
TRUMP ASIA TRIP, DAYS BEFORE THE TRILATERAL (November 19)
ASEAN-related summit, Philippines (Tue Nov 17) | ██ 2
APEC leaders' dinner, Shenzhen (Wed Nov 18) | █ 1
Xi bilateral and lunch (Thu Nov 19) | 0
Trilateral with Xi and Putin (Thu Nov 19) | 0
| Day | Event |
|---|---|
| Tuesday, Nov 17 | Trump attends a Southeast Asian summit in the Philippines |
| Wednesday, Nov 18 | APEC leaders’ dinner and multilateral meeting in Shenzhen |
| Thursday, Nov 19 | Bilateral meeting and working lunch with Xi |
| Thursday, Nov 19 | Trilateral meeting with Xi and Putin, the last event of the trip |
| Business leaders | Expected at the APEC CEO Summit, but not part of the US delegation |
| Elon Musk | Expected to accompany Trump, per CNN; not scheduled for the closed trilateral |
Source: ABC News and CNN reporting on White House briefings, November 13, 2026.
This is Trump’s second trip to China this year, after his May state visit, and his third meeting with Xi in 2026. Counting the Busan talks in October 2025, it is his fourth since he returned to the White House. The trip starts in the Philippines, where Trump attends a Southeast Asian summit on Tuesday, then moves to Shenzhen for the dinner on Wednesday.
Thursday carries the main events. Trump holds a bilateral meeting and working lunch with Xi in the afternoon, then joins the trilateral session. Reports differ on the exact arrival date in Shenzhen, so this report lists days, not times. The White House has not published a full public schedule. Business leaders will attend the CEO Summit as guests of the host, not as part of the US government team.
APEC Summit 2026 Schedule: Every Meeting Before Shenzhen in 2026
HOST-YEAR MEETING LENGTH (days)
Senior Officials, Guangzhou | ██████████ 10
Trade Ministers, Suzhou | ██ 2
CEO Summit, Shenzhen | ██ 2
Leaders' Meeting, Shenzhen | ██ 2
| Meeting | Date | Place |
|---|---|---|
| First Senior Officials’ Meeting | February 1–10, 2026 | Guangzhou |
| Ministers Responsible for Trade | May 22–23, 2026 | Suzhou |
| CEO Summit | November 17–18, 2026 | Shenzhen |
| Economic Leaders’ Meeting | November 18–19, 2026 | Shenzhen |
Source: APEC Secretariat; APEC China 2026 host portal; Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government.
The 10-day opening round of Senior Officials’ meetings started the host year in Guangzhou in February 2026. It is the longest block on the chart by a wide margin. Officials from all 21 economies used it to set the year’s work plan. The trade ministers met for two days, May 22–23, in Suzhou under Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao. They issued the Suzhou Statement, which backed the long-term Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific goal, World Trade Organization reform and digital and green trade work.
The final block is short and dense. The CEO Summit and the Leaders’ Meeting each run two days and overlap by one, so business chiefs and presidents share Shenzhen on November 18. China set three priorities for the APEC Summit 2026: openness, innovation and cooperation. Foreign Minister Wang Yi has asked negotiators for a substantive outcome document. Shenzhen has asked residents to leave cars at home and use flexible work hours from November 16 to 20.
Trump Xi Meeting 2026: Timeline of Every Face-to-Face Talk
DAYS BETWEEN TRUMP-XI MEETINGS
Busan to Beijing | ████████████████████ 197
Beijing to Washington | █████████████ 132
Washington to Shenzhen | ██████ 56
Shenzhen to Miami | ███ 25
| Meeting | Date | Place | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Busan talks | October 30, 2025 | South Korea | Held |
| Beijing visit | May 13–15, 2026 | China | Held |
| Washington state visit | September 23–25, 2026 | United States | Held |
| Shenzhen bilateral | November 19, 2026 | Shenzhen | Confirmed by the White House |
| G20 summit | December 14–15, 2026 | Miami | Scheduled |
Source: CNN, Reuters and CNBC reporting on each meeting; White House statements reported by ABC News, November 13, 2026; published leader travel schedules for the G20 dates.
Read the chart as a countdown. Busan to Beijing took 197 days. Beijing to Washington took 132 days. The Washington talks on September 24 sit only 56 days before the Shenzhen bilateral on November 19, and the Miami G20 follows Shenzhen by 25 days. The gaps shrink each round, which shows both governments want regular contact. The Busan round produced the current trade truce.
Xi told Trump at a White House tea that two more chances to meet remain this year, and the Shenzhen bilateral is now confirmed as the first of them. No formal agenda for it has been published. Trade, rare earths and advanced chips are expected to feature, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is set to travel to China for the summit. The Washington visit delivered few concrete results beyond the truce extension.
US China Trade 2026: The Numbers Behind APEC Summit 2026 Talks
US-CHINA TRADE IN 2025 (billions of dollars)
Goods imports from China | ███████████████████████████████ 308.7
Goods deficit | ████████████████████ 202.7
Goods exports to China | ███████████ 106.0
Services exports to China | ██████ 57.2
| Metric (2025) | Value | Change from 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Total goods and services trade | $494.6 billion | −25.1% |
| Goods exports to China | $106.0 billion | −26.0% |
| Goods imports from China | $308.7 billion | −29.9% |
| Goods trade deficit | $202.7 billion | −31.8% |
| Services exports to China | $57.2 billion | +5.0% |
Source: U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), People’s Republic of China trade profile, 2026 update.
Every goods number in the table fell. Total goods and services trade dropped 25.1% to $494.6 billion. US goods exports to China fell 26.0% to $106.0 billion, and imports fell 29.9% to $308.7 billion. The goods deficit shrank 31.8% to $202.7 billion, which is still above $200 billion. Services moved the other way. US services exports to China rose 5.0% to $57.2 billion.
Tariffs drove the drop. Mutual tariffs topped 100% in spring 2025 before the Busan truce cut them. That deal also paused Chinese export limits on rare earths and set purchase targets for US soybeans. The APEC Summit 2026 puts those numbers under pressure. The truce extension gives both governments until January 10 to roll the deal over or pursue a bigger agreement. These are 2025 figures, and full-year 2026 trade data will not exist until early 2027.
Trade Truce Deadline 2026: What Trump and Xi Must Settle at APEC Summit 2026
DAYS LEFT ON THE TRADE TRUCE (as of November 14)
Original end date, November 10 | passed 4 days ago
Leaders' Meeting opens, Nov 18 | ██ 4
Trump-Xi bilateral, Nov 19 | ██ 5
New end date, January 10 | ██████████████████████████████ 57
| Item | 2026 Status |
|---|---|
| Truce end date | Moved from November 10 to January 10 |
| Rare earth export curbs | China announced a two-month pause to January 10 on November 9 |
| Soybean purchases | 25 million tons required; Treasury expects Beijing to meet it |
| Other US farm goods | $17 billion pledge; Beijing is lagging |
| Boeing aircraft | 200 aircraft commitment; progress, no near-term orders |
| Tariff talks | A “30-for-30” framework would cut tariffs on $30 billion of trade each way |
| Latest official contact | Greer and Bessent video call with Vice Premier He Lifeng, November 6 |
Source: Reuters, CBS News, NBC News, CNBC and The National reporting on Treasury, USTR and Chinese Commerce Ministry statements, September-November 2026; American Action Forum.
The chart shows the clock. The original truce end date of November 10 has passed, and the extension runs 57 more days to January 10. The table shows the scorecard. China is on track for the 25 million ton soybean requirement but trails on $17 billion of other farm purchases. US officials say rare earth deliveries lag, and USTR Jamieson Greer says China must fully implement its commitments on farm goods and critical minerals.
Both sides took steps before the summit. China’s Commerce Ministry formalized the rare earth pause on November 9, and Greer and Bessent spoke with He Lifeng by video on November 6. A new US-China Board of Trade, led by Bessent, Greer and He, is meant to “optimize bilateral trade”, including the 30-for-30 tariff cuts. Analysts expect Trump and Xi to steer toward another extension beyond January. Our report on the Trump Xi summit in Washington tracks the September visit in detail.
Chip Export Controls and Rare Earths 2026: The Technology Issues at APEC
FLASHPOINTS ON THE TRUMP-XI TABLE
Rare earth pause, new end date | ██████████████████████████████ Jan 10
Chip curb legislation | ███████████████ pending in Congress
Board of Trade tariff cuts | ███████████████ $30 billion each way
| Issue | 2026 Status |
|---|---|
| Rare earth export controls | Paused until January 10; licensing process still lacks a standard system |
| Advanced AI chip sales | Expected to feature at the summit; no agenda published |
| Chip curb legislation | Lawmakers push tighter limits on China’s chip access |
| Chinese response | Officials have warned they could tighten rare earth and magnet controls |
| Nvidia | CEO Jensen Huang resigned November 12; reports tie allegations to the chip debate |
| Trade board | Bessent, Greer and He Lifeng lead the new US-China Board of Trade |
Source: CNBC, Outlook India and The National reporting, November 9-12, 2026; European Chamber of Commerce in China comments, September 2026.
Technology is the harder track. Rare earths are paused until January 10, but business groups say companies still lack a standard way to apply for export licenses. A pause is not a rule change, and either side could resume restrictions after the date. Chips raise a second question: how much advanced AI hardware the United States will let China buy. No detailed agenda for that topic has been published.
The politics shifted days before the meeting. After Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang resigned on November 12, CNBC reported that allegations connected to him strengthened the case in Congress for tighter chip export limits. Chinese officials have said they would respond if such legislation passes. An analyst quoted by CNBC said Trump appears unconcerned and that Trump and Xi are expected to keep steering toward a longer truce.
APEC Members 2026: All 21 Economies, Leaders and Attendance Status
APEC ECONOMIES BY REGION
Southeast Asia | ███████ 7
East Asia | █████ 5
Americas | █████ 5
Oceania | ███ 3
Russia | █ 1
| Economy | Leader (November 2026) | Attendance Status (November 14) |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Prime Minister Anthony Albanese | Expected |
| Brunei Darussalam | Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah | Not reported |
| Canada | Prime Minister Mark Carney | Plans to attend |
| Chile | President José Antonio Kast | Not reported |
| China | President Xi Jinping (host) | Host |
| Hong Kong, China | Chief Executive John Lee | Not reported |
| Indonesia | President Prabowo Subianto | Due to attend |
| Japan | Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi | Confirmed by Tokyo |
| Republic of Korea | President Lee Jae Myung | Scheduled |
| Malaysia | Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim | Due to attend |
| Mexico | President Claudia Sheinbaum | Plans to attend |
| New Zealand | Prime Minister Christopher Luxon | Confirmed |
| Papua New Guinea | Prime Minister James Marape | Not reported |
| Peru | President Keiko Fujimori | Not reported |
| Philippines | President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. | Expected |
| Russia | President Vladimir Putin | Kremlin says he will attend |
| Singapore | Prime Minister Lawrence Wong | Plans to attend |
| Chinese Taipei | Envoy Stan Shih, Acer founder | Named |
| Thailand | Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul | Not reported |
| United States | President Donald Trump | Confirmed by the White House |
| Viet Nam | General Secretary and President To Lam | Due to attend |
Source: APEC Secretariat member list; U.S. Department of State; national government announcements; TRT World, Nikkei Asia, Reuters and AFP reporting, November 12-14, 2026. China had not officially published the attendee list.
Southeast Asia holds the most seats with seven economies. East Asia and the Americas hold five each, Oceania holds three and Russia holds one. Keiko Fujimori became Peru’s president on July 28, 2026, after a runoff win by fewer than 50,000 votes. She is Peru’s ninth president in a decade. Chile’s José Antonio Kast also took office in 2026. Mark Carney arrives amid an open tariff fight with Washington, and Canada’s push to sell beyond the US market shows how Ottawa is responding.
Taiwan has named its envoy. Acer founder Stan Shih will represent Chinese Taipei, because its president does not attend leaders’ meetings. Beijing says Taiwan’s participation depends on the one-China principle, and Washington says every economy deserves equal participation. China has not officially said which leaders will attend. Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans to travel after a Philippines stop, and New Zealand’s Christopher Luxon is confirmed.
US Exports to APEC 2026: What American Firms Sell Across the Pacific
US GOODS EXPORTS TO APEC IN 2024 (billions of dollars)
Machinery | ███████████████████████████████████ 173.2
Electrical machinery | ███████████████████████████████ 156.7
Mineral fuels | ██████████████████████████████ 150.5
Vehicles | █████████████████████ 105.4
Optical, medical devices | ████████████ 58.6
| Category | 2024 Value |
|---|---|
| Machinery | $173.2 billion |
| Electrical machinery | $156.7 billion |
| Mineral fuels | $150.5 billion |
| Vehicles | $105.4 billion |
| Optical and medical instruments | $58.6 billion |
| All goods exports to APEC | $1,234.3 billion (60.2% of US exports) |
| Agricultural exports to APEC | $133.1 billion |
Source: U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), U.S.-APEC Trade Facts; U.S. Department of State.
Machinery leads at $173.2 billion, followed by electrical machinery at $156.7 billion and mineral fuels at $150.5 billion. Vehicles reached $105.4 billion, and optical and medical instruments reached $58.6 billion. Total goods exports to the region hit $1,234.3 billion, up 2.0% from 2023, and they made up 60.2% of all US exports. Farm shipments alone reached $133.1 billion.
The State Department puts the 2025 share above 55%, or about $1.2 trillion. USTR also counts $4.1 trillion in US goods and services trade with APEC in 2024, against regional GDP of $67.8 trillion and about 3.0 billion people. That is why the APEC Summit 2026 reaches beyond Beijing. For the wider ranking, see this breakdown of US trading partners statistics.
Frequently Asked Questions About APEC Summit 2026
When is the APEC Summit 2026?
The APEC Summit 2026 runs November 18–19, 2026. The APEC CEO Summit starts a day earlier, on November 17.
Where is the APEC Summit 2026 being held?
Shenzhen, in China’s Guangdong province, hosts the APEC Summit 2026. It is the third time China hosts, after 2001 and 2014.
Who hosts and chairs the APEC Summit 2026?
China hosts, and President Xi Jinping chairs the Leaders’ Meeting. The host year carries the name APEC China 2026.
Is Trump attending the APEC Summit 2026?
Yes. The White House confirmed on November 13 that Trump will attend. He joins an APEC leaders’ dinner and multilateral meeting and then meets Xi, and Putin joins a trilateral session.
Will Trump meet Xi at the APEC Summit 2026?
Yes. The White House says Trump will hold a bilateral meeting and working lunch with Xi on Thursday, November 19. It will be their third meeting in 2026.
Will Trump meet Putin and Xi at APEC?
Yes. The White House says Trump will join the first-ever Trump-Putin-Xi trilateral on November 19. No separate Trump-Putin bilateral is planned.
What will the Trump-Putin-Xi meeting cover?
The White House named nuclear arms reduction, denuclearization and Iran. It says Ukraine will not be the focus, though the Kremlin says settlement talks will continue.
Will Putin attend the APEC Summit 2026?
Yes, according to the Kremlin. Aide Yuri Ushakov said on November 12 that Putin will meet Trump in Shenzhen. China has not officially published the attendee list.
How many countries are in APEC in 2026?
APEC has 21 member economies. Not all are countries. Hong Kong, China and Chinese Taipei take part as economies.
Which countries are APEC members in 2026?
The members are Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the United States and Viet Nam.
What is the theme of the APEC Summit 2026?
The theme is Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together. The three priorities are openness, innovation and cooperation.
What is on the APEC Summit 2026 agenda?
Expect talks on trade and investment, the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, WTO support, the digital economy, artificial intelligence, connectivity and sustainable development. China wants a substantive outcome document. On the sidelines, the US-China agenda includes trade, rare earths and chips.
Will Taiwan attend the APEC Summit 2026?
Taiwan takes part as Chinese Taipei, and its president does not attend leaders’ meetings. Taipei named Acer founder Stan Shih as its envoy. Beijing ties participation to the one-China principle.
What happens to the US-China trade truce after the APEC Summit 2026?
The truce now ends January 10. China formalized a two-month pause on rare earth export curbs on November 9. Analysts expect Trump and Xi to steer toward a longer extension.
What is the APEC CEO Summit 2026?
The CEO Summit runs November 17–18 in Shenzhen and draws about 1,000 government and business representatives. The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade hosts it. US business leaders attend as guests, not as part of the US delegation.
Where was APEC held before the 2026 summit?
Gyeongju, South Korea, hosted it on October 31 to November 1, 2025. Leaders endorsed the Gyeongju Declaration and the APEC AI Initiative. Trump met Xi in South Korea on October 30 and left before the forum opened.
Who will represent Taiwan at the APEC Summit 2026?
Stan Shih, founder of Acer, will serve as Taiwan’s envoy under the name Chinese Taipei.
Is Elon Musk going to the APEC Summit 2026?
CNN reported Musk is expected to accompany Trump, but he is not scheduled to join the closed trilateral meeting.
Disclaimer: This research report is compiled from publicly available sources. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is given as to the completeness or reliability of the information. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions, losses, or damages of any kind arising from the use of this report.