The article reflects on Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's recent speech at the Davos Forum, where he emphasized the need for middle powers to unite against the unilateral actions of the United States under President Trump. Carney warns that failing to collaborate will leave these nations at the mercy of hegemonic powers during negotiations, as they will be forced to accept terms dictated by the stronger nation instead of negotiating from a position of strength.

The discussion is set against the backdrop of ongoing U.S.-Japan-Korea tariff negotiations that began last spring, where the article highlights the differing strategies of Japan and South Korea. While there were calls for trilateral cooperation in negotiations to strengthen their bargaining position against the United States, Japan, being a larger economy, seemingly chose to pursue its own path, underscoring a lack of detailed collaboration or response from South Korea regarding coordinating positions on tariffs. This divergence in response is considered detrimental to both nations' negotiating power.

Furthermore, the article emphasizes the missed opportunities in joint negotiating tactics that could have yielded better outcomes against U.S. tariffs. South Korea's disappointment in Japan’s lack of cooperative intent reveals the complexities of their diplomatic and trade relations, and points to the broader implications of international relations in times of growing economic nationalism. The implications of Japan's unilateral decision-making could affect future bilateral relations and the cohesiveness of Asian middle powers.