Trump's high stakes Asian diplomacy can potentially yield lucrative returns

KUALA LUMPUR: United States President Donald Trump regards his maiden trip to Asia as an "interesting time" and alluded to the slew of trade deals clinched with several regional economies as potentially yielding lucrative returns.

AI Brief

Trump signed trade agreements with four ASEAN countries, boosting cooperation in tech, energy and critical minerals.
The deals aim to reduce reliance on China's rare earths and expand US partnerships in Asia.
Trump will continue his Asia tour with expected trade deals in Japan and South Korea, followed by a meeting with Xi Jinping.

Trump, who is here to attend the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, signed trade agreements with Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.

He is also expected to sign similar deals in Japan and South Korea, his next destinations after the ASEAN Summit.

Shortly after Trump landed at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at Sepang, the US and Malaysia signed the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, elevating trade and bilateral relations.

Among other things, the agreements include deeper cooperation across strategic areas such as trade and investment, advanced technology and energy security.

The deals also include cooperation to diversify global critical mineral supply chains and promote investments.

Trump also met Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, during which the US President reportedly said both their countries should be able to make some pretty good deals.

The US also clinched similar deals with Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, which signalled Washington's move to diversify away from China's rare earth mining and processing dominance.

Trump, who will visit Japan and South Korea after Malaysia, is also expected to sign deals to enhance economic cooperation.

"We will stay here tonight and be off to another beautiful country (Japan) tomorrow. We have some very good, interesting deals," he said after signing the trade deal with Malaysia.

"The following day, we will meet President Xi Jinping of China," he said, referring to his final stop in Asia, namely at the 2025 APEC Economic Leaders Week in Gyeongju, South Korea, this week.

Before the 47th ASEAN summit got underway, American and Chinese trade officials were already engaged in negotiations to hammer out a trade deal in Kuala Lumpur, before their leaders' possible meeting on the sidelines of the APEC meeting.

-- BERNAMA