Trump's Executive Orders on AI and Trade Policies Impact Asia-Pacific Markets

Following United States President Donald Trump's recent executive orders aimed at accelerating artificial intelligence (AI) development and his stern warnings on trade tariffs, major stock market indexes in the Asia-Pacific region showed mixed reactions on Thursday.

Japan's Nikkei 225 saw a modest increase, while South Korea's Kospi experienced a slight decline. Meanwhile, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 enjoyed a more significant rise. In contrast, mainland China's Shenzhen Composite dropped, and the Shanghai Composite remained unchanged. Hong Kong's Hang Seng also faced a notable decrease.

Trump emphasized that the timing for reducing levies on Chinese exports is contingent upon China's actions, placing the ball squarely in China's court. His aggressive stance on trade deals and AI development has left markets and governments worldwide watching closely.