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US presidential trips overseas have traditionally been an chance to demonstrate the influence of the American nation on the world stage. Donald Trump's five-day trip through Asian nations, on the other hand, has been a demonstration of the clout of Trump – but also, at points, of that influence's limitations.

Trump's destinations in Malaysia, Japan and Korea over the duration of the initial days were an demonstration in catering to a at times mercurial president. It was an recognition that the president, with the signature of a hand, could impose tariffs and other measures that have the potential to harm the economies of export-oriented states.

His meeting with Chinese leader Xi on the final day, nevertheless, was a completely different scenario.

It was a session of equals on the global stage, where the risks for both nations – for their economies, for their global standing, for the prosperity of their people – were immense.

With China, Trump may flick his power, but these moves come with consequences. They carry a price.

• The US president praises 'impressive' meeting with the Chinese leader but no agreement finalized
• Xi and the US leader establish temporary truce as Beijing adopts strategic patience

For the initial phase, Trump's latest venture into world politics was successful.

Each destination was punctuated by a blend of conventional commercial discussions – agreements made under the threat of the president's "equivalent" tariffs – and special treatment that at points bordered on the deferential.

In Malaysia, the president obtained entry to essential resources and made progress toward completing commercial deals with ASEAN countries. He also presided over a pact that should alleviate frontier issues between Thailand and Cambodia – the sort of "peace deal" the US leader loves to highlight.

In the Japanese leg, the president's Marine One flew past a Tokyo Tower lit US flag colors – with a top in Trumpian gold.

Newly elected Leader the Japanese leader described $550bn in Tokyo's funding in the US and gave the American president a offering of 250 sakura trees for America's semiquincentennial, and a golf equipment and bag that belonged to the late leader, the killed former prime minister who connected with Trump in his initial presidency.

She also became the newest international head to nominate the president for his highly-coveted international honor.

Keeping pace, Korea received the president with artillery performing a 21-gun salute and a service ensemble that played the leader's song and the Village People song – the Village People song that has evolved into a presidential event standard.

President Lee Jae Myung held an "award event" for Trump during which he presented the US president his country's premier award and a copy of an historical royal headpiece.

Noon repast with the Korean leader contained a "Conciliatory Treat" of gilded brownies. Subsequently, the hosts provided the president fine beverage at an intimate dinner in the president's honor with multiple global figures participating in the APEC conference.

In the US, the president may be the target of "Anti-Monarchy" protests by Americans who disapprove of his authority-expanding expansions of presidential power, but during his regional tour he was handled as monarchy.

And like the rulers of history, the president arrived in the Korean nation demanding contribution – in the shape of $200 billion in monetary contributions, $20bn a per year, from the host nation to the United States, to be allocated at the guidance of the president's leadership. Approval on the terms of those contributions contributed to that the tariff rate on South Korean exports to the America would fall from a quarter to fifteen percent.

The central moment of Trump's Asian tour occurred in its concluding phase, nevertheless, as he encountered Xi.

There, the power dynamic between leaders of the global top two markets was noticeably divergent than the interactions the president had with his international peers in prior visits.

Missing were all the ceremony and the pageantry. Without any armed forces orchestras, no ceremonial troops, without carefully crafted dining selections honoring bilateral friendship. Rather, the both heads and their top aides were seated across a extended light-colored negotiating table in a unremarkable military building just near the airstrip of the city of Busan's global terminal.

It was possibly a reflection of the high stakes that when Trump exchanged greetings with Xi in the southern port, he looked