Trump’s Trade Barbs Push Asian Nations Closer to China’s Orbit
- Smaller Asian countries look to avoid over-reliance on China
- U.S. leader used Asia trip to hammer region on trade deficits
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For years, smaller nations in Asia have looked to the U.S. to provide a counterweight to an increasingly powerful China. Under President Donald Trump, they are learning to fend for themselves.
Trump declared his 11-day swing through Asia a success before heading home on Tuesday, saying that “all Countries dealing with us on TRADE know that the rules have changed.” On each stop, he devoted most of his time to trade deficits, moving away from a U.S. strategy since World War II to enhance economic linkages in Asia as a way of boosting security ties and deterring conflict.