When the landlord goes rogue: Trump, trade, and NZ’s next move

Donald Trump has signalled he is willing for the US to go through a recession for the sake of his tariff war. (Image: Getty)

Dileepa Fonseka

Mon, 17 Mar 2025

We may only be three months into 2025, but when it comes to quotes of the year it is hard to imagine anybody will be able to surpass what Singapore’s Defence Minister, Ng Eng Hen, said at the Munich Security Conference. Ng observed that the US image in Asia had “changed from liberator to great disruptor to a landlord seeking rent”.With US power no longer predictable or reliable, conversations are being had right through Asia and other parts of the world about what could replace America's support for the rules-based or...

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