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American leader visits overseas have traditionally been an opportunity to display the strength of the American nation on the international platform. The president's multi-day tour through Asian nations, by contrast, has been a demonstration of the power of the president – but also, at points, of that influence's constraints.

The president's stops in Malaysia, Japan and Korea over the span of the initial days were an display in catering to a sometimes unpredictable president. It was an acknowledgement that the leader, with the signature of a pen, could impose duties and further steps that have the ability to harm the markets of export-oriented nations.

His meeting with Beijing's head Xi on the final day, though, was a distinct situation.

It was a session of counterparts on the international scene, where the stakes for the two powers – for their markets, for their world reputation, for the well-being of their populations – were significant.

With the Chinese, the president may flick his pen, but those steps come with repercussions. They carry a price.

• The US president describes 'remarkable' encounter with the Chinese leader but no pact agreed
• Xi and the US leader establish short-term ceasefire as China pursues extended strategy

For the first four days, Trump's latest entry into world politics was successful.

Each stop was punctuated by a combination of conventional commercial discussions – arrangements made under the pressure of the president's "equivalent" taxes – and personal accommodations that at points approached the obsequious.

In Malaysia, Trump obtained access to critical minerals and made progress toward finalizing commercial deals with ASEAN countries. He also oversaw a agreement that should reduce border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia – the kind of "peace deal" the US leader prefers to highlight.

In Japan, the president's helicopter flew past a Tokyo Tower displayed red, white and blue – with a peak in golden.

Freshly appointed Head the Japanese leader described $half-trillion in Japanese investments in the US and offered the US leader a present of 250 flowering trees for the United States' 250th birthday, and a sports gear and bag that came from the late leader, the assassinated past head who bonded with the president in his first term.

She also became the latest foreign leader to suggest the president for his long-sought international honor.

Matching the effort, the Korean government greeted the president with artillery firing a honor salute and a armed forces orchestra that performed the leader's song and the Village People song – the band anthem that has turned into a political gathering anthem.

Head Lee held an "recognition ritual" for the US leader during which he awarded the president his state's premier award and a copy of an historical royal headpiece.

Lunch with the Korean leader included a "Conciliatory Treat" of gold-covered baked goods. Later that day, the hosts provided Trump vineyard wine at an exclusive gathering in Trump's honour with multiple world leaders present at the APEC summit.

In the United States, Trump may be the target of "Anti-Monarchy" protests by Americans who oppose his limit-pushing expansions of presidential power, but during his East Asia visit he was received as royalty.

And like the rulers of ancient times, the president came to Korea demanding contribution – in the guise of $200bn in monetary contributions, $20bn a year, from the host nation to the US, to be used at the discretion of the president's government. Agreement on the details of those contributions assisted in that the duty level on South Korean exports to the US would fall from twenty-five percent to fifteen percent.

The primary focus of the president's Asian tour came in its concluding phase, though, as he encountered Xi.

At that location, the authority balance between heads of the global top two markets was noticeably distinct than the interactions Trump had with his overseas colleagues in prior visits.

Absent were the usual pageantry and the spectacle. No armed forces orchestras, absent ceremonial troops, without thoughtfully prepared menus honoring shared goodwill. By contrast, the two leaders and their top aides positioned themselves across a long white negotiating table in a nondescript service structure just off the runway of the city of Busan's global terminal.

It was perhaps a reflection of the significant risks that when the president shook hands with the Chinese leader in the southern port, he seemed