[Durbin]

So ripping up existing trade agreements with China and Mexico is going to magically improve relationships with China and Mexico? Is the President even allowed to just rip up trade agreements? Are we talking common sense and reality here or are we just spewing whatever crap will whip the crowd into a frenzy?

[blowfish]

I’ll take “just spewing whatever crap will whip the crowd into a frenzy”. It’s what The Donald does so well.

[Elyse]

There is a sucker born every minute it seems.

[Bidimus1]

some have easy exit systems, others not.

[palmer]

So ripping up existing trade agreements with China and Mexico is going to magically improve relationships with China and Mexico?

What relationship? America was great back when we had high tariffs and we will be great again with tariffs (even though they won't be that high).

[Mariner]

"So ripping up existing trade agreements with China and Mexico is going to magically improve relationships with China and Mexico? "

Do you care if does...or even if that should be a consideration?

Those Trade deals are not treaties. The United States is not bound to them.

Past POTUS proposed and Congress passed these deals on simple majority votes...NAFTA, all since WWII.

If the Executive chooses not to honor or enforce them, Congress can only Impeach, or defund his actions.

But if Trump does somehow managed to win, the political dynamics will be to essentially do it his way.

And, even without Congressional action, a POTUS has enormous power over every regulatory and enforcement agency that Congress cannot influence.

Yes, a POTUS could, effectively, "tear up" all those deals. They're no different than any other simple law.

[Cowboy Bob]

So ripping up existing trade agreements with China and Mexico is going to magically improve relationships with China and Mexico? Is the President even allowed to just rip up trade agreements?

Yes. All Trump needs to do is invoke the "Obama Doctrine," where the President can act unilaterally. This doctrine was approved with overwhelming support by the Republican controlled congress.

[acw011]

So ripping up existing trade agreements with China and Mexico is going to magically improve relationships with China and Mexico? Is the President even allowed to just rip up trade agreements? Are we talking common sense and reality here or are we just spewing whatever crap will whip the crowd into a frenzy?
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probably have a better chance if we had a GOP Congress.. but we know that will never happen.. oh wait...

[Bruce Campbells Chin]

Is the President even allowed to just rip up trade agreements? Are we talking common sense and reality here or are we just spewing whatever crap will whip the crowd into a frenzy?

He can't, and he won't. You have all sorts of contracts, business relationships, etc. Dependent upon that trade. Components manufactured in one country for use in another, etc. If you ripped everything up - which he couldn't do unilaterally anyway because - the disruption would be immense.

You'd have to pass something setting a repeal date a few years down the road.

[MaxFlint]

So ripping up existing trade agreements with China and Mexico is going to magically improve relationships with China and Mexico? Is the President even allowed to just rip up trade agreements?

It will improve the relationship for us. As for them, tough luck. We hold all the cards. They deal or their economies collapse.

And yes, the president can effectively tear up most trade agreements. Just find one of the thousands of cases where all our "partners" have violated the agreement and there's usually a way out.

Or you use some other law. For example the FDA could suspend imports of unsafe food. The president has plenty of options.