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American leader visits abroad have historically been an opportunity to demonstrate the influence of the United States on the global scene. Trump's week-long swing through Asian nations, conversely, has been a demonstration of the clout of the president – but also, at times, of that power's constraints.

The president's visits in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea over the duration of the opening phase were an demonstration in pleasing a sometimes volatile American president. It was an recognition that Trump, with the flick of a pen, could enact duties and other measures that have the ability to devastate the economies of export-oriented countries.

His meeting with China's president Xi on the last day, nevertheless, was a distinct situation.

It was a session of peers on the international scene, where the risks for each country – for their economies, for their international prestige, for the well-being of their people – were enormous.

With China, the president may flick his pen, but such actions come with repercussions. They involve a toll.

• The US president describes 'amazing' encounter with the Chinese leader but no pact reached
• Xi and the US leader reach temporary truce as China plays longer game

For the initial phase, Trump's most recent foray into international relations was smooth sailing.

Each stop was marked by a combination of traditional commercial discussions – deals made under the shadow of the president's "reciprocal" tariffs – and individual concessions that at points bordered on the obsequious.

In Malaysia, Trump gained rights to critical minerals and made headway toward finalizing trade arrangements with regional partners. He also oversaw a pact that should alleviate border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia – the sort of "peace agreement" the president enjoys to promote.

In the Japanese leg, Trump's official aircraft passed by a Tokyo Tower lit red, white and blue – with a peak in gilded.

Newly elected Prime Minister Sanai Takaichi detailed $half-trillion in Tokyo's funding in the America and gave the American president a gift of two hundred fifty sakura trees for the United States' semiquincentennial, and a golf equipment and case that was owned by former Prime Minister Abe, the murdered former prime minister who connected with Trump in his first term.

She also became the most recent overseas counterpart to suggest the president for his much-desired Nobel Peace Prize.

Matching the effort, the Korean government received Trump with cannons firing a honor salute and a service ensemble that rendered Hail to the Chief and the classic tune – the band anthem that has become a political gathering standard.

President Lee Jae Myung held an "award event" for the US leader during which he gave the president his state's premier award and a model of an traditional ruler's coronet.

Midday meal with the Korean leader featured a "Conciliatory Treat" of gold-covered chocolate squares. Afterward, the hosts served the president fine beverage at an private meal in the president's honor with six global figures participating in the regional summit summit.

In the America, Trump may be the subject of "Anti-Monarchy" protests by the public who oppose his boundary-testing increases of executive authority, but during his Asian swing he was treated like nobility.

And like the monarchs of old, Trump came to the Korean nation demanding payment – in the guise of $200bn in financial transfers, $20bn a annually, from South Korea to the United States, to be allocated at the discretion of the president's leadership. Consent on the conditions of those transfers assisted in that the tax percentage on Korean products to the United States would fall from twenty-five percent to 15%.

The central moment of Trump's Asia trip took place in its last moments, however, as he met with Xi.

There, the authority balance between leaders of the global top two markets was decidedly different than the interactions the president had with his international peers in prior visits.

Missing were typical ceremony and the display. No military bands, without honour guards, no thoughtfully prepared menus honoring mutual national affection. Rather, the pair of counterparts and their top aides positioned themselves across a long white meeting furniture in a plain military building just off the runway of the city of Busan's international airport.

It was perhaps a indication of the high stakes that when the president exchanged greetings with the Chinese leader in the Korean city, he seemed