This resource will track statements, developments, visits, and other interactions in US-Indo-Pacific relations under the President Trump administration. Special focus will be 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 Defense Dr. Mark Esper; Secretary of State Mike Pompeo; Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, Jr.; former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson; and former Secretary of Defense James Mattis.
The Trump Administration & US - Indo-Pacific Relations
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Secretary Ross' Op-Ed on Trade Reciprocity - Japan, South Korea, China
"Americans live in a world where other countries impose high tariffs and non-tariff barriers to trade. U.S. exporters face enormous obstacles in foreign markets, and yet, we maintain the most free and open market of any major country in the world.
We have zero tariffs on 61 percent of the total value of our imports, more than 17,000 product types. On thousands of additional products, our tariffs are lower than the tariffs other countries impose. For example, our 2.5 percent tariff on cars is far…
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President Trump's Interview with Face the Nation - North Korea, South Korea, China
"MARGARET BRENNAN: North Korea. When and where are you going to meet Kim Jong Un?
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I won't tell you yet, but you'll be finding out probably State of the Union or shortly before. But the meeting is set. He's looking forward to it. I'm looking forward to it. We've made tremendous progress. If you remember, before I became president, it looked like we were going to war with North Korea. Now we have a very good relationship. The hostages are back. Okay…
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President Trump's Remarks on the Reciprocal Trade Act - Indo-Pacific
I will be talking a lot about reciprocal trade over the next six years. Hopefully, we’ll have it done in two years or less. And we will see deficits down to a level that would really — you know, we talk about “Make America Great Again”; we have to do these things to make America great again. Because we can’t lose almost $800 billion on trade, like has been done for many years. And it’s been numbers — they varied anywhere from $300 billion to…
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Secretary Pompeo's Call With Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Kang
"Secretary Michael R. Pompeo spoke on January 20 with Republic of Korea (R.O.K.) Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha. They updated each other on respective U.S. and R.O.K. engagements with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (D.P.R.K.). Secretary Pompeo and Foreign Minister Kang affirmed the enduring strength of the U.S.-R.O.K. Alliance."
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President Trump's Remarks on “Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018”
"Today, I have signed into law S. 2736, the “Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018” (the “Act”). Several provisions of the Act, including sections 101, 102, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 208, 209, 210, 211, 213, 216, 306, 307, 406, and 410, purport to dictate the policy of the United States in external military and foreign affairs, or to require the executive branch to undertake certain diplomatic initiatives with international partners."
To read the full text of the “Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018” click here.
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Remarks by Secretary Mattis on National Defense Strategy - Indo-Pacific
"In the Indo-Pacific region, we keep our decades-old alliances strong by building new partnerships. From this year's historic visit of the USS Carl Vinson, to Vietnam, to our deepening security cooperation with India, which shows the growing trust between the world's two largest democracies, both Pacific powers. In Korea, our diplomats speak from a position of unquestioned strength, as they endeavor to achieve the complete, verified denuclearization of North Korea. [...] We are in era of great power competition, but as President Trump has said…