Asia trade chiefs travel 800 hours to secure elusive US deals

US President Donald Trump
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PIROSCHKA VAN DE WOUW

Trade negotiators from around the world have been racking up miles flying to Washington to strike a deal with President Donald Trump — especially Asian delegations who have the farthest to go. With final agreements still out of reach for most, the travel isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

Since Trump unveiled his “reciprocal” tariffs on April 2, delegates from Asian countries including Japan, India and Indonesia have made at least 20 trips to Washington. That’s over 770 hours in the air, equivalent to a full month of flying, covering more than 350,000 miles — or 14 times around the globe.

The tally is based on the most direct commercial flight routes from each Asian capital to Washington, and publicly available information on official trade meetings. It doesn’t include extra travel time (like packing or on-the-road commutes) nor does it account for remote calls or unofficial talks on the sidelines of events like the Group-of-Seven meeting in Canada or APEC in South Korea earlier this year.

The travel won’t stop here, either. With Trump now delaying the higher duties until August 1, more trips are likely in the next few weeks. Indonesia’s top trade negotiator, facing a 32 per cent levy, is set to arrive in DC this week. For some economies, such as India and Taiwan, the lack of direct flights makes the journey even more grueling.

Here’s the total time and distance Asian officials, who have yet to secure a trade deal, have logged in the air traveling to Washington.

Japan

Japanese officials have been among the most active in trade talks with the US, with chief negotiator Ryosei Akazawa making seven trips to Washington. Tokyo has been firm about securing the right deal, not rushing into one that could hurt its auto or agricultural sectors. Altogether, the distance they’ve traveled adds up to more than a third of the way to the moon.

India

India’s chief trade negotiator Rajesh Aggarwal and his team have traveled three times to the US for talks. Trump says a deal is close, hinting that the South Asian nation could join the short list of countries — with Vietnam and the UK — that have secured trade agreements.

South Korea

Officials have made four visits to the US capital — two under the previous administration and two more since President Lee Jae Myung and new trade negotiator Yeo Han-koo took over. Like others, the government is steering clear of a rushed deal, but said this week it would review regulations flagged by the US.

Taiwan

Taiwan’s delegation, led by trade negotiator Yang Jen-ni, has made three trips to Washington, and was in the US this week. The archipelago hasn’t received a tariff letter from Trump and remains hopeful about reaching a trade deal that could involve more imports of US energy, agricultural and military goods.

Malaysia

The Malaysian delegation has made two trips to Washington. Facing a 25 per cent tariff, the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry said the country is committed to continuing engagement with the US toward a “balanced, mutually beneficial, and comprehensive trade agreement.” Officials had earlier been quite optimistic about the talks and reaching a potential deal.

Indonesia

Officials signaled last week that a “bold” deal with the US could be near, after the Trump administration said in June it had what it needed to make a trade decision. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, who has been leading the talks, is due in Washington on Tuesday to meet with US representatives — the second meeting between the two countries on trade.

China

Chinese officials are one of the only groups who haven’t traveled to Washington for trade talks. Instead, Vice Premier He Lifeng has gone to Geneva and London for this purpose. Negotiations between the two sides are still going on, with US tariffs currently at around 55 per cent for China, a number that appears to include levies introduced during Trump’s first presidency.

Thailand

Thailand’s trade team led by Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has made just one official trip to the US for talks, after earlier attempts, including during the IMF-World Bank meetings in April, fell through. The country remains optimistic about securing a lower tariff rate than the 36 per cent levy, Pichai said on Tuesday.