Susan Thornton shives the knife in. She does great damage to the US.
She was part of the Clinton and Obama administrations that led China into the WTO with more hope than certainty that they would abide by its rules. And abide, they did not. Hence today.
Here she undermines the United States. She openly subverts its efforts to get a decent deal so that a "future administration" can bend to China's will. She is kowtowing to China.
Kind of sleazy, I reckon.
Note that her audience of China-based business people don't buy her surrenderism, her anticipatory capitulation, her appeasement...
Frank Lavin, who runs a consultancy in Shanghai called Export Now advising businesses working in China and is the former head of the International Trade Administration at the US Commerce Department between 2005 and 2007 under George W Bush, said there was general support for Trump's approach towards China."There's an ambivalent view on tariffs, whether it's the right tactic or not. But at least most people, I think a solid majority of Americans, will say he is done a good job of identifying the problem and rattling China," he said.
And so say my own contacts in China. Not Trump voters. But supporting some sort of decent (= tough) deal with China that has penalties for non compliance. Just as every other country, including the United States adheres to.
Mind you it may be that the text of the draft agreement could be modified by making any punishments apply to both sides. Why not? To remove any hint of humiliation.
~~~~~~~~
Former official says Beijing might have to wait for change
