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US presidential trips abroad have typically been an opportunity to demonstrate the strength of the US on the global scene. Trump's multi-day trip through East Asia, on the other hand, has been a display of the authority of Trump – but also, at times, of that influence's constraints.

Trump's visits in Malaysia, Japan and Korea over the course of the opening phase were an demonstration in pleasing a occasionally mercurial US leader. It was an recognition that the president, with the stroke of a hand, could impose duties and additional actions that have the capacity to damage the economies of export-dependent states.

His meeting with Beijing's head Xi Jinping on the last day, though, was something entirely different.

It was a encounter of counterparts on the world platform, where the consequences for each country – for their economies, for their world reputation, for the prosperity of their citizens – were immense.

With the Chinese, the president may flick his pen, but those steps involve consequences. They come with a toll.

• Trump describes 'amazing' talks with the Chinese leader but no pact reached
• The Chinese president and the US leader find temporary truce as Beijing plays longer game

For the first four days, Trump's most recent foray into international relations was successful.

Each visit was marked by a combination of traditional trade negotiations – agreements made under the threat of Trump's "equivalent" taxes – and personal accommodations that at times bordered on the deferential.

In Malaysia, Trump obtained access to key materials and made headway toward completing commercial deals with south-east Asian nations. He also led a treaty that should reduce frontier issues between Thailand and Cambodia – the type of "peace agreement" the US leader prefers to promote.

In the Japanese leg, the president's helicopter flew past a Tokyo Tower lit US flag colors – with a peak in golden.

Recently chosen Leader the Japanese leader detailed $550bn in Japanese investments in the United States and presented the president a offering of 250 flowering trees for America's 250th birthday, and a golf equipment and case that came from Shinzo Abe, the killed past head who bonded with the president in his first term.

She also became the latest foreign leader to propose Trump for his highly-coveted Nobel Peace Prize.

Not to be outdone, Korea welcomed Trump with artillery performing a traditional greeting and a armed forces orchestra that rendered Hail to the Chief and YMCA – the band anthem that has evolved into a political gathering anthem.

Leader Lee Jae Myung held an "recognition ritual" for Trump during which he presented the US president his nation's top honor and a copy of an historical royal headpiece.

Noon repast with the Korean leader contained a "Conciliatory Treat" of gold-covered brownies. Subsequently, the hosts offered Trump vineyard wine at an private meal in Trump's recognition with six global figures participating in the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference conference.

In the United States, the president may be the subject of "No Kings" protests by Americans who oppose his authority-expanding extensions of presidential power, but during his East Asia tour he was handled as monarchy.

And like the kings of old, the president visited the Korean nation requesting payment – in the shape of $200 billion in cash payments, $twenty billion a per year, from Korea to the America, to be allocated at the guidance of the president's administration. Agreement on the details of those payments contributed to that the tariff rate on Korean goods to the America would drop from a quarter to under twenty percent.

The central moment of Trump's regional visit came in its last moments, nevertheless, as he encountered the Chinese leader.

At that location, the influence relationship between counterparts of the global top two markets was noticeably divergent than the interactions Trump had with his international peers in prior visits.

Not present were typical pomp and the display. No service ensembles, absent ceremonial troops, no meticulously designed meal plans celebrating bilateral friendship. By contrast, the two leaders and their key staff were seated across a extended light-colored meeting furniture in a plain service structure just off the runway of the city of Busan's global terminal.

It was likely a demonstration of the high stakes that when the president made contact with Xi in Busan, he looked