Deals to avert Trump’s tariffs leave Asian partners facing uncertainty

The week began with Washington announcing major commitments from Japan and Indonesia after both countries negotiated to avoid steep U.S. tariffs: Japan pledged $36 billion in investments, and Indonesia signed a deal to open critical sectors to American companies.

The concessions came as officials faced the threat of punitive duties — as high as 35 percent for Japan and 32 percent for Indonesia — and were hailed by Mr. Trump as evidence the United States was “WINNING again.” The tenor shifted on Friday when the Supreme Court struck down the legal basis for those tariffs; Mr.

Trump said many deals would stand but acknowledged some might not and would be replaced by other tariffs. Governments across Asia rushed to cut deals that would protect export-dependent industries, agreeing to lower their own import barriers, align on sanctions and change sourcing for critical minerals.

Japan, Indonesia, United States, Asia

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