[nathanbedford]

I saw Pillsbury, a noted authority on trade policy with China from the Hudson Institute, saying that the Chinese reneged on agreed-upon trade reform that had been done in writing.

The president was thus left with no choice but to increase tariffs or collapse entirely and give the game over to the Chinese to continue hollowing out America.

Is it not unreasonable to suspect that the Chinese calculated that by reneging on their prior written agreements, the reaction by Republican senators would weaken Trump?

It seems to me we have only one president at a time, you cannot negotiate by committee, certainly not a committee of politicians. There is a great line from The Caine Mutiny in which Barney Greenwald rebukes the mutineers saying words to the effect, "he is your captain and you support him or you're no good."

[JonPreston]

I saw Pillsbury

On Dobbs last night? He's a great interview, and solid on trade.

[billyboy15]

Is it not unreasonable to suspect that the Chinese calculated that by reneging on their prior written agreements, the reaction by Republican senators would weaken Trump?
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The attempt at renegotiating previously agreed upon conditions is a well known tactic. This is used by the weaker side and only when the opponent (USA) has come to believe they have won and will get a good deal.

The idea is that we are so anxious to finally seal the deal that rather than take the chance of losing all the gains they have made they will give up a few of these wins to get it done.

Trump as a businessman and a successful negotiator is well aware of what the Chinese are doing here and has called their bluff and raised them. He will win this round and my guess is the talks now are in the final stages of an agreement.

[LouAvul]

There is a great line from The Caine Mutiny.......

Yeah, well, those days are really gone. Like, when Van Johnson puts his hand on a Bible and pledges to report Fred MacMurray for any future rebellious talk. I haven't seen the Bible portrayed in any positive way in Hollyweird cinema in a long time.

[Chengdu54]

“You don’t work with a man because of the way he combs his hair. You work with him because he’s got the job or you’re no good!” (Lt. Barney Greenwald)