Let's just say that NAFTA is toast, and Trump is arranging the post NAFTA world in our favor. Trudeau is flopping around like a fish on hot concrete.
POTUS Trump began with China (Feb ’17). Outlines drawn. Handshakes. But he did so knowing he was dealing with Xi Jinping the dragon, not the panda. Trump acted like he was accepting magnanimous panda, his granddaughter helped exhibit panda deference, but all while Trump was really viewing Xi with dragon-face. Brilliant.
POTUS Trump then expanded economic influence through Saudi Arabia and the FCC creating new economic allies based on new definitions; and strategic security partnerships without the traditional U.S. cultural demands. Stunning results ongoing.
POTUS Trump worked quickly through the economics of Europe gauging who was on-board and who was not. France, Poland, Hungary all quickly joined up. Germany and the U.K. not-so-much… [Two visits to Macron and a reciprocal state visit soon] …Now go look at the economic results each EU state is facing; look who is winning.
POTUS Trump moved quickly on India as leverage with China trade discussions. If China does stupid,… Trump hugs Modi tighter. Trump kicks Pakistan in teeth with brutal truth over Afghanistan and their co-dependent enabling of Taliban. Modi smiles bigger still.
POTUS Trump moved BIGLY in Asia. Trump gave BFF Shinzo Abe first place. Japan has golden ticket to U.S. market based on reciprocity – everything is possible and Abe is on top of the world. Trump knows China will *ONLY* do that which is in their interests… and he knows Xi Jinping needs the U.S. more than the U.S. needs China. Worst part for Xi is he knows that Trump knows…
We always knew there was a generally good trade strategy visible from POTUS Trump, but it needs to be said that NO-ONE realized just how well thought out it really is. Now I know what this guy does instead of sleeping… he maps out the matrix of trade leverage and economic strategy….. it’s almost absurd how keenly insightful Trump is on the geopolitical side of economics.
Our president has flaws and faults, we all accept that…. but he is engaging in international economics with a mastery never seen by a U.S. president. EVER.
That truth is why the multinationals (corporations and banks) hate him so much, yet fear him a thousand times more. If you doubt, or perhaps just need confirmation, just look at what happened in Davos.
…“it is much safer to be feared than loved because …love is preserved by the link of obligation which, owing to the baseness of men, is broken at every opportunity for their advantage; but fear preserves you by a dread of punishment which never fails.”
~Niccolò Machiavelli, The Prince
The Canadians have the buying power of a population equal to California. It puts them in a distinctly disadvantaged position. NAFTA gave them parity but it didn't do the US much good.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant writing. Clear, concise, correct, and right to the point.
ReplyDeletePOTUS has been waiting a long time to stick China's feet in the fire for currency manipulation and market dumping on us for a long time. Now that he's in the catbird seat, he's dealing with a stacked deck that has a lot feathers ruffled. Way to go, DJT !
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