President Donald Trump has been using tariffs as a tool of American power in trade negotiations with over a dozen nations, including requiring Israel to eliminate Chinese company control of a key port and insisting that South Korea publicly support deploying U.S. troops to deter China.
Internal government documents obtained by The Washington Post show that administration officials saw trade talks as an opportunity to achieve objectives beyond Trump’s stated goal of reducing the chronic US trade deficit. Plans were drawn up to press countries near China for a closer defense relationship, including the purchase of US equipment and port visits.
The documents revealed a range of national security considerations, including pushing Taiwan, India, and Indonesia to increase their defense spending or buy more US military hardware. Administration officials envisioned using trade negotiations to contain Chinese strategic influence, with proposals to allow the US Navy to conduct ship visits and training exercises in Cambodia and to prohibit Chinese military deployments outside of Ream Naval Base.
In Israel, US officials wanted the government not to force Chevron to sell its interests or status as operator in one of its offshore natural gas fields. The Houston-based energy company has been operating in Israel since 2020.
The Trump administration continues to leverage trade talks for broader gains, including linking them with hopes of killing a global climate change deal. Officials have instructed countries to vote against the IMO’s “Net-Zero Framework” as part of any trade deal.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/08/09/trump-trade-policy-national-security