Biden's policy for businesses in Asia must start with Covid-19 recovery at home

AS we appear to have moved past the "contested US election" scenario - although President Donald Trump's team, at the time of writing, continues with legal battles in some states - President-elect Joe Biden is quickly sketching out his transition plans and early key staff appointments for his forthcoming administration.

Some have argued the Biden administration will try to turn back the clock and replicate former president Barack Obama's "pivot to Asia", while others fear that without Trump's bombastic approach to China, the US will be seen as "weaker" in the Asia-Pacific.

Both these perspectives, in our view, are too simplistic. Not only has Asia changed significantly since Mr Obama left office, but America's post-Trump, post-Covid population is sicker, poorer, more bitterly divided and more isolationist than it has been in years.