President Trump told reporters as he flew into Japan that he expects to have a trade agreement with China finalized by the end of his tour of Asia.

President Trump told reporters as he flew into Japan that he expects to have a trade agreement with China finalized by the end of his tour of Asia.

The ASEAN bloc of Southeast Asian nations and China on Tuesday signed an upgrade to their free trade agreement, which includes sections on digital, the green economy and other new industries, Beijing's Commerce Ministry said.

President Trump's dealmaking is coming in handy as he inks rare earth mineral ventures with Japan and Australia with more likely in the pipeline.

Donald Trump has begun a whistle-stop tour of Asia that will culminate in his first face-to-face meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping for six years. It is “the most important week of diplomacy” for Trump “since he returned to office”, said The Economist.

Many countries in the region want to continue doing business while managing ties with China, the ex-prime minister says.

Beijing and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have signed an expanded free trade agreement as both sides face increased protectionism from the United States

This special report focuses on a historic $550 billion trade and defence pact signed by US President Donald Trump and Japan's first female Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, aimed at countering China's influence.