Eduardo Pedrosa, executive director of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Secretariat, speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the Hwabaek International Convention Center in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Sunday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — The upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Korea will serve as a platform for “honest conversation” among member economies amid global trade uncertainties, according to Eduardo Pedrosa, executive director of the APEC Secretariat.

With the U.S. Donald Trump administration adopting increasingly protectionist trade policies, the APEC leaders' gathering in November — potentially bringing together leaders of the U.S. and China —will serve as a platform for candid discussions, he viewed.

"By the time of the APEC leaders' meeting, we will have a much better sense of what President Trump's policies are. But more of why APEC is important is that there are 21 member economies, and that gives a chance for honest talks," Pedrosa said during an interview with The Korea Times, Sunday.

"In this global moment of transition, with protectionism, more tariffs, climate change, advancing technology all happening at the same time, I think a frank conversation would be extremely helpful."

The interview took place on the final day of the first round of the Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM), which began on Feb. 24 in Gyeongju, bringing together delegations from the 21 member economies to discuss the agenda for the upcoming summit.

The meeting came while APEC members are facing increasingly unpredictable global trade conditions amid Trump's aggressive trade measures.

"President Trump is just part of the big equation ... all of the APEC members, all of their policies shift and change as times go on," Pedrosa said, adding that countries react in an attempt to counter the moves and ensure their economies are not damaged.

"But again, we don't know what the policies will be. These can change very quickly, so we just have to see what happens."

Pedrosa, a Philippine national who took office last November, was in Gyeongju for the first time for the SOM gathering. He praised the city's rich cultural heritage and its Bomun Tourist Complex, the main venue for the summit, describing it as “impressive” with modern facilities.

Eduardo Pedrosa, right, executive director of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Secretariat, speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the Hwabaek International Convention Center in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Sunday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Yet questions remain about whether the city can accommodate all guests, including leaders, business representatives, government officials and media. Hotels in the area are undergoing renovations to host world leaders, but lodging remains insufficient.

Pedrosa suggested that some participants could be accommodated in nearby cities.

"I was looking at the map and initially in my mind, these might be far away and wouldn't be feasible to make the trip. But having gone around, I think we see that plan is very feasible," he said.

Beyond logistical hurdles, the ongoing political turmoil in Korea over President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment crisis has raised concerns about summit preparations. Yoon is undergoing an impeachment trial over his Dec. 3 martial law declaration.

However, the executive director emphasized the dedication of individuals involved in organizing the high-stakes event, rather than the political climate of the host nation.

"It's the commitment of the people to the successful hosting of APEC that really counts, and that's really driving this effort — government agencies working hand in hand with businesses and other stakeholders," he said.

"Korea has hosted APEC twice, and these were very significant milestones in APEC history. So we expect no less from Korea. The ambitions are high."