Trump's big tariff task in Asia Is to close the deal

The president's Asia tour offers the chance to complete trade pacts that have hit roadblocks

- Jason Douglas, Timothy W. Martin & Shan Li

Completing more trade deals would bolster Donald Trump's centerpiece trade agenda as his controversial levies face legal and political blowback at home and abroad.

(BLOOMBERG)

President Trump’s quest to reorder global trade through personal diplomacy will be tested during his tour of Asia this week, as he faces the tantalizing prospect of a pact with China and the chance to bust through obstacles to completing deals with other key trading partners.

Trump has won some momentum by winning tariff agreements with a handful of Southeast Asian nations and also sounded an optimistic note on China ahead of a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping planned for later this week. “I think we are going to come away with a deal,” Trump said Monday aboard Air Force One en route to Japan.

In Tokyo Tuesday, Trump and new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takai-chi pledged to usher in a new “golden age” of U.S.-Japan relations in their first in-person summit.

“We're going to do tremendous trade together, I think, more than ever before,” Trump said, hailing the trade pact finalized with Japan last month.

Trump is scheduled to be in the region through Thursday. As well as the high-stakes meeting with Xi, Trump is due to sit down with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday.

There is much ground left to cover on trade with other important Asian economies, including South Korea, India, Australia and Taiwan. In some instances, negotiators are struggling to turn bare-bones agreements into actionable deals, while other talks are continuing.

Completing more trade deals would bolster Trump's centerpiece trade agenda as his controversial levies face legal and political blowback at home and abroad. More delays, despite Trump’s direct involvement, could embolden other countries to dig in longer in the hope of winning more concessions.