The $550 Billion Stroke: How a Marker Altered a Major US-Japan Trade Deal
I. Introduction: The Ink, The Marker, and The Deal The world of international diplomacy often conjures images of meticulously drafted treaties, solemn signing ceremonies, and carefully choreographed pronouncements. Yet, in July 2025, a striking image emerged that defied these conventions: a photograph of a document on the desk of the U.S. President, bearing a visible, … Read more