[Conservative Goddess]

"The overwhelming majority of trade war threats by other nations are pure bluff. They know we can damage them far more than they can damage us at this point and all it takes is a Presidency and Congress with BALLS to use that leverage."

Nonsense. The WTO wields a mighty big stick...and like it or not, we're members, bound by their decisions. They would authorize retaliatory tariffs on our exports in a New York minute. A year ago we passed a significant tax bill to appease the mighty WTO. Please see: http://www.nmma.org/lib/docs/nmma/gr/policy/Export_Tax_Repeal_Bill.pdf

[neutronsgalore]

"Nonsense. The WTO wields a mighty big stick...and like it or not, we're members, bound by their decisions."

That's what withdrawal is for, with the tariff legislation set to go in effect the day after the time limit.

"A year ago we passed a significant tax bill to appease the mighty WTO."

Like I said..a complete LACK OF BALLS! There were appeals that could be made that would have locked the whole process up in bureaucracy for 1-3 years, plenty of time for a withdrawal to take place. But the instant the WTO makes a decision the US govt cowers like a beaten dog.