Secretary of State Marco Rubio talks about countering China as it expands its global influence. But President Trump’s tariff threats have created tension with U.S. partners.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with Southeast Asian counterparts on Thursday in his first visit to Asia since taking office, and will try to reassure them the region is a priority for Washington,

Secretary of State Marco Rubio canceled the Tokyo and Seoul destinations of this week’s trip to Asia amid an Israeli visit to the White House and a renewed trade war.

Trump has now extended the deadline for negotiations to Aug. 1 and tinkered with his threatened tariffs, leaving the global trading system pretty much where it stood three months ago — in a state of limbo as businesses delay decisions on investments, contracts and hiring because they don’t know what the rules will be.

The European Union said it was working on sealing a trade deal with the United States by the end of the month, while U.S. President Donald Trump promised that he would deliver further tariff notices on unnamed countries on Wednesday.

President Donald Trump met the presidents of five African nations -- Senegal, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania and Gabon -- in what the White House describes as a push to deepen trade, including precious medals.

President Donald Trump welcomed leaders of five African nations, hailing the continent’s economic potential as his administration seeks to expand US access to critical minerals and other natural resources.

Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania and Senegal for a discussion and lunch at the White House, with the discussions to focus on business opportunities, a White House official said. Africa experts are waiting for Trump to announce dates for a broader summit with African leaders,

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he will announce a 50% tariff on copper later in the day, aiming to boost U.S. production of a metal critical to electric vehicles, military hardware, the power grid and many consumer goods.

"America will, once again, build a DOMINANT Copper Industry," Trump said in a post on his Truth Social media platform.