Indo-Pacific

South Korea found itself the target of a “reciprocal” 25 percent tariff rate on April 2, part of the so-called “Liberation Day” tariff announcements in which Donald Trump slapped double-digit tariffs on nearly all U.S. trade partners. With these tariffs apparently taking effect August 1, the U.S. and South Korean governments appear committed to following…

With capitals in both the United States and South Korea implementing policy changes and personnel choices that accompany new administrations, both countries continued down the path of engagement and shared attention to economic security, alliance cooperation, and bilateral cooperation in Q2 2025. The following is a timeline of high-level meetings and selected policy developments in…

U.S. President Donald Trump has spent the last six months radically reshaping trade. He has done so largely through unilateral tariff decisions that affect global supply chains and trade flows. Two actions are particularly problematic: the president’s determination to impose “reciprocal” tariff rate increases for individual countries and the rapid expansion of products covered under…

The Donald Trump administration’s tariffs have reignited debates over their utility and repercussions, particularly for strategic allies like South Korea. Its supporters, for instance, have pointed out the value of tariffs in introducing better terms of trade for the United States while generating significant revenues for the federal government; however, its critics have questioned whether the…

When South Korea released its “Strategy for a Free, Peaceful, and Prosperous Indo-Pacific Region” in December 2022—marking Seoul’s first-ever effort to develop a comprehensive regional strategy—early commentaries honed in on…

Japan’s Indo-Pacific Strategy predates that of the U.S. In fact, Abe Shinzo gets credit for envisioning it as early as 2007, during his first brief tenure as prime minister. When…

Over the past decade, the “Indo-Pacific” concept has replaced the late 20th century “Asia-Pacific” as a central frame of reference for strategy and external policy. Definitions vary. Some cast the…