Asia prepares for Trump 2.0 and end of U.S-centric economic order

Higher tariffs could drive many in the region toward BRICS and the Global South

The tariff plans of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump seem to have raised concerns among many Asian leaders, given that nine of the top 15 nations and regions with the largest trade deficits with the U.S. in 2023 are in Asia. © Reuters

TORU TAKAHASHI, Nikkei senior staff writer

December 1, 2024 16:00 JST

TOKYO -- On Nov. 5, the American people chose former President Donald Trump to lead their nation for the next four years. With the onset of "Trump 2.0," the U.S.-centric global economic order may be nearing its end, and Asia is poised to feel the effects of the disruptions this major shift could bring.

Trump champions his "MAGA" (Make America Great Again) slogan, aimed at fostering American nationalism and an "America First" agenda. This includes promoting the purchase of U.S.-made products and the hiring of American workers. His main tool for achieving these goals is tariffs, which the incoming president refers to as "the most beautiful word."