APEC 2025 Review: Trump’s Unwritten Deals Leave Asian Leaders Seeking Clarity
- Olga Nesterova
- 1 minute ago
- 3 min read
Currently at the APEC review hosted by the Asia Society, a clear pattern emerges: while most regional attendees focus on concrete, detailed agreements, the American delegation under the Trump administration presents “deals” with no written terms, no readouts, and no confirmed documentation. Analysts and attendees note that all information about U.S. engagements must instead be pieced together from counterpart statements and the administration’s public comments to the media.
Japan: Relief and Skepticism
Japanese officials reportedly expressed quiet relief that President Trump refrained from announcing new tariffs or fresh demands on “military spending.” Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, in her early weeks in office, faces mounting domestic scrutiny over her enthusiastic rapport with Trump — including her highly publicized nomination of him for the Nobel Peace Prize. Opposition lawmakers are calling this her “honeymoon period,” warning that symbolic diplomacy without substance could undermine Japan’s negotiating leverage.
Japan’s current tariffs remain at 15%. The next challenge for Takaichi’s government is identifying new funding sources to meet previously established U.S. defense spending targets.
South Korea: The Pragmatic “Win”
South Korea, by contrast, approached the summit with what observers described as “strategic pageantry” — a golden crown, peace lilies on the table, and ceremonial displays meant to impress Trump. The major outcome: a delay of the $350 billion upfront payment the U.S. had demanded. Under the revised framework, South Korea will contribute $2 billion per year, pending National Assembly approval.
President Lee noted that accepting the original $350 billion condition “would have led to impeachment,” making the negotiated delay both politically and economically vital.
Trump also granted South Korea permission to build a nuclear-powered submarine, though the authorization lacks specifics. President Lee presented the move as a step toward self-reliance, reducing dependency on the U.S., which Trump hailed as a “historic moment.”
North Korea: Silence and Preconditions
Regarding North Korea, Kim Jong Un stated that while he “remembers” previous meetings with Trump fondly, any future encounter would require removing denuclearization from the agenda. Despite Trump’s repeated outreach — through the United Nations, media statements, and direct letters — no response has followed from Pyongyang.
China: Strategic Patience and Retaliatory Options
China’s delegation has taken a calculated, observant approach. Officials are focusing on responses to U.S. tariff expansions and restrictions on Chinese port operations. Beijing reiterated that export controls are integral to national security, signaling that further U.S. pressure could provoke tighter Chinese restrictions — a move that could backfire on American strategic interests.
While Trump’s absence from several multilateral sessions was noted, APEC’s most consequential dialogues are now taking place around Chinese President Xi Jinping’s bilateral meetings, particularly with Southeast Asian partners.
Malaysia and Emerging Tensions
Malaysia faced intense U.S. pressure to include new clauses limiting cooperation with foreign — specifically Chinese — firms engaged in what Washington defines as “unfair trade practices.” The proposal, described by one delegate as “eyebrow-raising,” has been inserted into the deal framework but has not been signed. The provision remains controversial within Malaysia’s government, raising concerns about sovereignty and neutrality in the escalating U.S.–China competition.
Broader Takeaway
Across the APEC sessions, there is consensus on one striking point: none of the U.S. arrangements exist in writing. While regional leaders value continued engagement, they view current talks through a pragmatic lens — prioritizing what is feasible, politically survivable, and regionally stabilizing.
As one analyst summarized, “Trump’s diplomacy brings theater, not treaties.”For now, Asia’s attention has shifted toward Xi Jinping’s meetings at APEC — the venue where substantive agreements may actually take shape.
