Trump trade bluster will alienate US allies in Asia

Significance

Even without Trump's scheduled participation in the East Asia Summit (EAS) in the Philippines -- he left Manila just before the meeting began -- he made his foreign policy priorities clear throughout the trip, which, on his return to Washington, he hailed as a "tremendous success".

Impacts

• Trump’s pursuit of quick arms sales could increase regional tensions and cause dissent in Congress.
• The Trump administration’s relative silence on human rights issues removes a sticking point from talks with authoritarian regimes.
• Trump’s interventions with foreign leaders undermine the credibility of US officials.