As trade deals show, the US now seeks rent from Asean, not partnership

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US President Donald Trump’s return to tariff diplomacy is on full display in Southeast Asia as he boasts of trade deals with first Vietnam, then Indonesia. The region faces some of the world’s steepest US tariffs come August 1, and many countries have rushed into last-minute talks to avoid economic fallout.Trump has announced a 19 per cent tariff on all Indonesian goods entering the United States under a deal, down from 32 per cent, with Indonesia agreeing in return to buy 50 Boeing jets and...