An anti-government demonstrator bang a pan outside La Moneda presidential palace in Santiago, Chile, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019. Chilean President Sebastián Pinera cancelled two major international summits after nearly two weeks of nationwide protests over economic inequality that have left at least 20 dead and damaged businesses and infrastructure around the country.(AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
October 30, 2019 - 9:41 AM
SANTIAGO, Chile - The Latest on protests in Chile and its withdrawal from hosting the Asia-Pacific and climate summits (all times local):
1:35 p.m.
The White House says it wants to sign the first phase of a new China trade deal next month even though the summit where it was to have happened has been cancelled.
President Donald Trump was to travel to Santiago, Chile, in November to sign the preliminary agreement with China's Xi Jinping.
Chilean President Sebastián Piñera said Wednesday he is cancelling the summit so he can focus on nearly two weeks of nationwide protests over economic inequality that have left 20 dead and damaged infrastructure around the country.
White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said the administration would await information about a possible new host city.
Gidley added that Trump wanted to sign the deal with China "within the same time frame," hinting that a separate event could occur outside a summit.
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1 p.m.
Chilean President Sebastián Piñera says he's cancelling two major international summits so he can focus on his response nearly two weeks of nationwide protests over economic inequality that have left 20 dead, hundreds injured and damaged businesses and infrastructure around the country.
The decision is a major blow to Chile's image as a regional oasis of stability and economic development.
U.S. and Chinese negotiators were hoping to finalize a modest trade agreement in time for President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to sign it at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Santiago, set for Nov. 16-17.
Piñera also said Chile wouldn't host the global U.N. global climate gathering planned for Dec. 2-13 "thanks to the difficult circumstances that the country has seen in recent weeks."
News from © The Associated Press, 2019