Trump in Asia: All you need to know about his upcoming 3-country tour
US President Donald Trump is set to embark on a days-long trip to three countries in Asia, where he will participate in consequential summits and talks featuring a number of his closest allies — and fiercest foes — from the far east.
His upcoming visits to Malaysia, Japan and South Korea mark a first in his second presidency, and come amid heating trade tensions with fellow military and economic behemoth China — whose leader, Xi Jinping, he will meet in Gyeongju.
Tariffs, immigration policies and lingering tensions with Washington are all expected to be brought to the table when Asian leaders engage with Trump on this trip. Here’s what you need to know about it.
Malaysia
Trump’s first stop will be at the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur from October 26 to 27. There, he will meet the 10 leaders from the regional bloc, which is set to expand this year with the accession of the fledgling democracy, Timor Leste.
Topics expected to be brought up include trade and US tariffs, regional security and defence partnerships, and the Gaza War, which Trump recently helped bring to a ceasefire using a 20-point peace plan between Israel and Hamas agreed to.
Though he arrives at the summit with a fortified credibility as a peacemaker, he also hovers with the image of a stingy negotiator. Tariffs on ASEAN countries stand between 10% to 40%, and trade tensions around the region recently flared up when Washington slapped a 100% tariff on China, a major export market for Southeast Asian countries.
As well, host country Malaysia’s decision to extend an invitation to Trump may be rooted in trade realities: the United States is now Malaysia’s largest export market, overtaking China. Bilateral trade has nearly doubled over the past decade, reaching $78.3 billion in 2022.
ASEAN had invited Xi to the summit, but he is expected to skip the event and attend the APEC Summit in South Korea instead.
Japan
Trump will stop in Tokyo early next week to meet Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s first female leader.
Talks will centre on trade and investment. Washington is demanding up to $550 billion in Japanese investments in the US, but Tokyo has so far pledged only a small share as direct capital.
Trump is also expected to press Japan to cut imports of Russian liquefied natural gas, a sensitive issue for energy-dependent Tokyo.
Despite a July deal lowering tariffs on Japanese cars, manufacturers say the new 15% rate remains too high, while tariffs of 50% on steel still stand. The two leaders are also expected to discuss regional security and coordination on China ahead of the APEC summit.
South Korea
Trump’s final stop will be Gyeongju, South Korea, for the APEC Summit from October 31 to November 1 — where he is expected to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping for the first time since returning to office.
Trade will dominate the agenda. Both leaders face pressure to cool tensions before new U.S. tariffs of up to 100% on Chinese exports take effect. Trump has said he hopes for a “deal on everything,” though Beijing has not yet confirmed the meeting.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will seek to finalise a $350 billion investment deal with Washington, delayed by disagreements over financing terms. The talks come amid lingering anger in Seoul over a US immigration raid last month that detained 300 South Korean nationals at a battery plant in Georgia.
North Korea’s latest missile test, launched days before Trump’s arrival, is expected to add urgency to discussions. While Trump has hinted at wanting to meet Kim Jong-un again, no such encounter is planned.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
