Any entrepreneur can see that Trump is executing the art of the deal.
In order to bring countries to the table, he has to show them how bad things could get. He does this by puffing up and making everyone think he’s capable of anything. Then they are surprised he is reasonable in person.
The author is (almost) figuring that out. He should read Trump’s book.
I’m reading the article amazed at how obtuse the writer is. Trump has been explicit about his position on trade and tariffs. He has said that free trade with zero barriers is the ideal and that he will use tariffs or the threat of tariffs where necessary to either a) achieve the ideal or b) to protect ourselves from countries who won’t cooperate in achieving the ideal. In other words he perfectly weds free trade theory with real world pragmatism. Trump has squared the circle but these guys are too dense to see it — although it is encouraging that this writer at least has an inkling. Maybe he will share his discovery of the obvious with others of his ilk.