The Trump effect

THIS WEEK'S TOPIC: What do you expect of US policy on Asia under the new Trump presidency? What will be the impact on business?

Iain Twine CEO Edelman, South East Asia and Australasia

THE political consensus around free trade deals, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), has collapsed as Americans question who benefits from these deals. This sentiment is driven by a growing political divide between Americans who have benefited from globalisation and the technological revolution, and those left behind.

The refusal to pass TPP and similar trade agreements will have a short-term impact on America's bilateral relations with its Asian partners. However, the interdependence between the United States and …