This resource tracked statements, developments, visits, and other interactions in US-Indo-Pacific relations under the President Trump administration. Special focus was given to the comments and activities of President Donald J. Trump; Vice President Mike Pence; United States Trade Representative Ambassador Robert E. Lighthizer; Secretary of State Mike Pompeo; Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, Jr.; former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson; former Secretary of Defense James Mattis; and former Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark Esper.
The Trump Administration & US - Indo-Pacific Relations
All Posts
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Presidential Proclamation Adjusting Imports of Aluminum into the United States
"The United States has an important security relationship with Australia, including our shared commitment to supporting each other in addressing national security concerns, particularly through our security, defense, and intelligence partnership; the strong economic and strategic partnership between our countries; our shared commitment to addressing global excess capacity in aluminum production; and the integration of Australian persons and organizations into the national technology and industrial base of the United States. [...] The United States has an important security relationship with South Korea, including our shared…
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Remarks by Vice President Pence at a Tax Cuts to Put America First Event
"Under President Donald Trump, I can assure you, the era of economic surrender is over. Our President, just today — (applause) — our President, just today, took another critical step to put American workers and American jobs first when he took action to combat China’s unfair trade practices and to protect America’s intellectual property. And I promise you, this President and this administration are going to keep fighting for American jobs and for free and fair trade that benefits our economy and our family."
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Presidential Proclamation Adjusting Imports of Steel into the United States
"The United States is continuing discussions with Canada and Mexico, as well as the following countries, on satisfactory alternative means to address the threatened impairment to the national security by imports of steel articles from those countries: the Commonwealth of Australia (Australia), the Argentine Republic (Argentina), the Republic of Korea (South Korea), the Federative Republic of Brazil (Brazil), and the European Union (EU) on behalf of its member countries. Each of these countries has an important security relationship with the United States and I have…
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Remarks by President Trump at the Generation Next Summit Panel Discussion with Charlie Kirk
"But we’re losing $375 billion with China. It could be $504 billion, depending on the way you count. A lot of different ways of counting. But no matter how you count, it’s bad. And we’re doing something that will be the start of making trade with China more fair. We’re so far down. [...] That’s why we had the 301 meeting today on China."
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Remarks by President Trump at Signing of a Presidential Memorandum Targeting China's Economic Aggression
"But we have one particular problem. And I view them as a friend; I have tremendous respect for President Xi. We have a great relationship. They’re helping us a lot in North Korea. And that’s China. But we have a trade deficit, depending on the way you calculate, of $504 billion. Now, some people would say it’s really $375 billion. Many different ways of looking at it, but any way you look at it, it is the largest deficit of any country in the history…
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Presidential Memorandum on the Actions by the United States Related to the Section 301 Investigation
"On August 14, 2017, I directed the United States Trade Representative (Trade Representative) to determine whether to investigate China’s laws, policies, practices, or actions that may be unreasonable or discriminatory and that may be harming American intellectual property rights, innovation, or technology development. On August 18, 2017, the Trade Representative initiated an investigation under section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (the “Act”) (19 U.S.C. 2411). [...] Section 1. Tariffs. (a) The Trade Representative should take all appropriate action under section 30…
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U.S. Department of Commerce Finds Dumping of Imports of Carton-Closing Staples from the People's Republic of China
"Today [March 22, 2018], U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced the affirmative final determination in the antidumping duty (AD) investigation of imports of carton-closing staples from the People’s Republic of China (China). [...] ommerce determined that exporters from China sold carton-closing staples in the United States at 115.65 – 263.40 percent less than fair value. As a result of today’s decision, Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect cash deposits from importers of carton-closing staples based on the final rates. In…
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Remarks by Vice President Pence on National Agriculture Day
"We made a deal, for the first time in over a decade, to sell American beef to China. And we reopened Vietnam to distillers and dried grains, and we’re just getting started. We’re going to open up the world to America’s agricultural goods."
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USTR Lighthizer Meets with European Commissioner for Trade and Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry
"Mrs Cecilia Malmström, European Commissioner for Trade, Mr. Hiroshige Seko, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan and Ambassador Robert E. Lighthizer, United States Trade Representative met in Brussels on 10 March, 2018. The Ministers confirmed their shared objective to address non market-oriented policies and practices that lead to severe overcapacity, create unfair competitive conditions for our workers and businesses, hinder the development and use of innovative technologies, and undermine the proper functioning of international trade, including where existing rules are not effective."
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Tariffs on Steel and Aluminium Imports to the United States - Indonesia
On March 8, 2018, President Donald Trump signed new tariffs into law on steel and aluminum imports. The tariffs, which are set to take effect 15 days from their signing, instill penalties of 25% on imported steel and 10% on imported aluminum. The tariffs have faced pushback within the United States and countries around the world. Currently, Canada and Mexico have been exempted from the tariffs as negotiations over the North American Free…
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Secretary Ross Announces $1.19 Billion Penalty for Chinese Company’s Export Violations to Iran and North Korea
"Secretary of Commerce Wilbur L. Ross, Jr. Stoday announced that China’s Zhongxing Telecommunications Equipment Corporation and ZTE Kangxun Telecommunications Ltd., known collectively as ZTE, has agreed to a record-high combined civil and criminal penalty of $1.19 billion, pending approval from the courts, after illegally shipping telecommunications equipment to Iran and North Korea in violation of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR). As part of the settlement, ZTE has agreed to pay a penalty of $661 million to Commerce’s…
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President Trump's Remarks on US-China Trade
"When I was with President Xi in China — as an example, we lose $500 billion a year on trade. We have a deficit of approximately $500 billion a year with China. And we’re doing things with China which are very strong, but they understand it. But I was with him and I said to him in public, I said, 'Look, I’m not blaming you. I blame our people for not doing a better job, for allowing this to happen.' [...] If you talk China…