U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met counterparts in Southeast Asia on Thursday during his first visit to Asia since taking office, reassuring them it is a priority for Washington despite President Donald Trump's tariff offensive.

It shows that personal grudges rather than simple economics are a driving force in the U.S. leader’s use of tariffs.

President Donald Trump announced that the United States will impose a 50% tariff on all copper imports starting August 1. The decision threatens to disrupt a global supply chain for one of the key inputs for the American industry and a crucial commodity for the green technology transition.

Tensions between the United States and Brazil have suddenly burst open. Brazil’s president promised to reciprocate against President Trump’s tariffs.

U.S. President Donald Trump has launched a global trade war with an array of tariffs that target individual products and countries.