Hardly surprising, dealing with a banana republic is a huge risk.
Who would want to waste their future well-being, time and resources on a high-risk gamble like this and then have to start from scratch four years later.
If congress had honored their oath, duties and responsibilities to the country and used the powers they have (as a third and equal branch of Government) this would never have happened. But the world and Americans to their dismay have seen that it can happen all it takes is a congress unwilling to do anything for the country.
It's going to be an uphill battle to convince everyone that every four years this is not going to happen again.
3
What leaders in their right mind would want to risk their country's future knowing that every four years policies, agreements, understandings, protocol can be torn up and thrown to the wind. Friend today, enemy tomorrow. Sure, changes, evaluation, re-evaluation are always necessary, nothing is perfect, but there is no solid ground anymore, no meeting point, not even a starting point.
And all it took was one 'democratically' elected megalomaniac and one of three branches of government, congress in this case, to abnegate its responsibilities and put all the power in one the megalomaniac's hands aka an autocracy – doesn't exactly promote trust, consistency, security, safety or a future of shared ideals and partnerships. Must be like trying to work with a banana republic, an emerging state.
1939, Hitler invades Poland and months later Democratic President Roosevelt has secret one on one meetings with Hitler, praises him and decides to make secret deals with him. It Is also revealed at that time that Hitler has helped Roosevelt win reelection. Of course Republicans have no problem with this....right!!
To our allies I say keep on truckin', we'll come back to you..
Dear N.Y. Times;
No, the United States is not the world’s leading economy. China with 1.4 billion people is the largest economy in the world today! The European Union with 550 million people is #2. The USA with its massive $22 trillion dollar debt and the largest military budget in the world, larger than the next 15 largest military budgets combined, is far behind at #3.
2
@Donald Matson Donald, the NYT is clinging to GDP measures of economy size because if they go to PPT (purchasing power parity) or the Big Mac models considered superior by many economist they get the wrong answer (China's economy being larger than the US economy). BTW using the GDP measure now both Canada and Spain's economies are larger than Russia's. Canada overtook Russia just last year in this measure. Makes you think.
1
Cheers to the rational forces in Europe. It is good that the EU allies will hold firm on the important relationships. As we weather the degenerative trough in which we in the US find ourselves, we will get past the Trump aberration. Let us hope Europe holds their best woven threads of democracy, that things remain steadfast, that the Trumpianesque racism, xenophobia, and vulgar dead-ended nationalism they, too, struggle with, will pass.
5
I'm no expert on economics or geopolitics, but if we only have 2 friends left who we're not at war with, one authoritarian and the other ethno-nationalist, our country is riding the Trump Train over a cliff.
6
It is simply mindboggling how incompetent and incoherent the administration has been on the issue of trade. As they were starting their effort to fight China, Trump decided that the time was right to impose steel and aluminum tariffs on all our closest allies. Even better, he decided to assert that the justification for tariffs against close allies such as Canada, EU, Japan, etc was national security, an insulting and bizarre lie. Then, just as he started to ramp up the trade war with China, Trump decided - for reasons still unclear - to go easy on ZTE, a company whose behavior exemplifies all of the things we are complaining about with regard to Chinese trade policy. And in the midst of all of this idiocy, Trump apparently forgot that any efforts to advance American policy with regard to sanctions against North Korea and Iran require Chinese cooperation. Now, the North Koreans are showing complete disdain towards our negotiators and the Iranians are openly talking about restarting their nuclear weapons program and closing off the Strait of Hormuz. What a negotiator! What a stable genius!
12
The Civilized World, however difficult it may be, must acknowledge that the United States, owned by Trump, his illiterate mobs and his amoral oligarchs, is now the World's worst existential enemy. Americans are no longer a beacon of light (for those who fancy it ever was), but a global threat to humanity. Unfortunately, Trump is just the symptom of this astonishing transformation. The time to isolate the US and prepare for the worst is now. Humanity is at stake.
11
“It’s Trump versus the world.” I am enraged that we Americans are dragged into the blackhole by this so called “controlled asset.” Washington must be cleansed of ALL Republicans. Thanks to patriotic Americans who continue to uphold our democratic processes - please do not lose courage and love of country for ALL Americans. Thanks also to the NY Times and to all investigative journalists for informing us of FACTS. The Fourth Estate, as well as the citizenry educating itself to think and vote critically, is vital to upholding democracy.
12
The GOP owns every square inch of this epic failure.
From the candidate they helped propel into office to the year and half of complicit behavior that has left DJT unchecked, the US race to the bottom fails squarely on mcconnell, ryan, meadows, mccarthy, etc.
In the meantime a republican prosecutor named Robert Mueller is heading up the criminal probe that will end DJT’s term early.
It is even acknowledged by many in the GOP publicly that the impeachment of DJT is no longer a matter of if, but when!
12
@Is_the_audit_over_yet
--and then what? A Pence-led government? The Republicans have shown themselves to be weak and America has shown itself to be incapable of reigning in a madman. That must be frightening to other countries and must result in lack of trust for a long, long time.
4
Big US companies are as bad as china in their trade practices. They are big monopolies that steal technology from small companies and resort to illegal practices to block out rivals. Microsoft in the 1990s and now google are only a couple of these companies
5
Dear France & Germany,
Do the yourselves and the world a favor, and hack our 2018 and 2020 elections. Please.
4
Could be worse, could (not) be raining.
The only thing some people are charging Trump with is his work to get rid of trade barriers to the selling of US products overseas. If that is anti-American, then we live in a make believe world. Sure the Europeans want to maintain the status quo, much in their favor. With the US being a very large consumer of products from around the world, we have more leverage than people will give us credit. Yes, we will suffer some pain, but having a return of manufacturing jobs to the US has great value as well.
2
@Financial Man Keep dreaming. The world will adjust and find a way to eventually bypass the US and we'll become a minor player in global trade. You're right about pain, lots of it, for everybody.
4
Would you buy weapons systems from a partner who might cut you off at the behest of the nation most likely to invade you?
Or would you partner with a nation who has never questioned your mutual defense treaty?
Is there an index fund that includes French, British, German, Spanish and Italian arms makers?
There is an opportunity for some enterprising broker, and if combined with shorting U.S. defense stocks will be a winner.
Defense workers ought to hold off on that kitchen renovation, and get their kids into community colleges.
3
@Lawrence
The patriotsystems ordered by Sweden were cut by 50% , might go out the window totally now.
@kimball
I apologize for not remembering the Swedish Arms industry.
Apparently, after you teach a man to fish, he gets used to eating.
America will become exactly as irrelevant as it is allowed to be by those in currently in power, and it is much easier to lose the respect of the rest of the world than it will be to gain it back.
9
Thanks for taking charge Asia and Europe while the US is closed for repairs.
14
Once again Congress is MIA not only in Trump's bungling of his summit with Putin (Republicans' verbal criticism is not action or even proposed action to protect our country) but also in what Trumpian chaos is making people forget: the Constitution does not limit control over foreign relations or int'l trade to the Executive. But Congressional muscle is atrophying from disuse and that is seriously weakening our republic.
5
And what are we Americans to expect? More relevant is Trump's hubris and total ignorance to the fact that the world is not going to stop because of his arbitrary moves based on his utter stupidity and uncontrollable, warped desire to control and feed his flawed existence.
But enough psychology, and to pragmatics. The European democracies, Japan, and our neighbor to the north, Canada, know how to lead. They understand the value of economic partnership and cooperation in order to sustain and nurture the welfare of their own countries. Let their be no doubt that they will succeed in this what was once a friendly competition. And with an inept Trump at the helm, our ship is sinking.
3
Trump the buffoon. Sloppy knee jerk decisions without much forethought, the way he ran his failed real estate dealings. Remember, he shorted investors, broke payment promises in contracted work, then hired lawyers to defraud those with less deep pockets. This is what we get.
6
@4Average Joe I agree Joe. But some of what we are seeing are long held beliefs by Trump, well known prior to his campaign. His disregard for NATO and his opinions on tariffs for instance. He was a dangerous dog before he was elected. It's too bad that the country absorbed the vilification of Hillary Clinton. Just watch her prescient comments during the debate, so relevant today.
https://www.facebook.com/VoiceOfChangee/videos/2136981236522847/?hc_ref=...
3
It's fortunate for the world that the EU (and Canada) is finally seeing the writing on the wall and taking comprehensive, constructive steps to preserve prosperity and order.
Mr. Brooks had a thought provoking OpEd a few days ago ("The Murder-Suicide of the West"), with a link to another article by Robert Kagan, outlining what's going on in the world today (particularly in the West), how we got here, and where we're likely headed.
While I don't necessarily go along with their assertion that the current environment has been brewing for some time and was inevitable, merely accelerated by the Teflon Don, I do agree that things are very unlikely to return to "normal" when Trump is in the rearview. If for no other reason than our old allies realizing that if Treasonous Trump happened once in the U.S., there's every possibility it could happen again down the road.
9
I read a really good book in the 1990's by William Greider -- "One World, Ready or Not". I still have it. In it he describes the increasing globalism and "free trade" practiced by corporations, and in particular, how those deals were changing China. Part of the exchange for allowing those big corporations who had the means to offshore entire industries to access all that sweet, cheap Chinese labor, was them signing agreements to share technology and other manufacturing/patent information with them. China then folded that into their plans for a new China, and it resulted in the behemoth we have today.
3
There was a time in history when the Romans devolved into minor Italian states and former colonies reborn as kingdoms. We may be entering a similar time for the Anglosphere.
One of Donald Trump’s major failings is the small scale of his thinking, with America as “just another power”. His supporters, drawn from the least educated and least imaginative levels of society, are perfectly happy with this truncated vision of America’s role in the world. They are the Little America counterparts to the Little Englanders of the Victorian era.
And, of course, America is becoming less English, as it draws more people from nations with no imperial histories, and as previously submerged groups become more vocal. PBS can no longer get by with reruns from British television.
Initiative from American companies and individual Americans will still be rewarded in the global arena (look at Apple, for example). Trade and investment will continue to flow as they will. It took the British two generations to decline from the victors of world wars to the imbecility of Brexit.
The United States might fading as a global power, but it won’t disappear overnight. Nor will Americans, although their framework for acting in the world will inevitably change.
14
It is pretty clear that Trump's handle on geo-politics is about as good as my understanding of astrophysics (I majored in English) Plus, he doesn't read the briefings prepared by experts and he doesn't listen to anyone.
He's a poser. And a bloviator
Let him continue to act on his ever increasing gut. He has zero credibility
He further alienates everyone but the basest of the base (and his loyal supplicant Pence)
He and his enablers (mcconnell et al) won't last forever, and when he's cut off at thr knees in November he will learn a few things the hard way .
6
Rich bankers move to stop disruption -- News at 11.
The reality is that the European states do many of the same things that the Chinese government does to manipulate markets.
3
Dear World,
Please understand that a plurality of American citizens did not vote for this insane president.
This election was stolen just like the Judicial coup that took away the election of Gore.
The day is coming when enough people will realize that there vote actually does count . And an informed vote is the most powerful tool we have in a Democracy.
We must remain focused on the long term goals of this Republic and why it was formed in the first place.
Citizens and not Oligarchs make up this nation.
23
@Rob Brown
Unfortunately, The Oligarchs, i.e Koch Bros., ICahn, Mercer, Adelson, etc., etc., are now in full control. With the advent of Citizens United, they can spend hundreds of millions, if not billions of dollars influencing politicians and the policy they create that serves the interests of the Oligarchs in America at the expense of everyone else. Their "divide and conquer approach" to influencing the outcome of elections has worked masterfully. Citizens may make up the majority of the Nation, however, as time has gone on, that influence has been steadily reduced down to almost insignificance.
Perhaps, once and for all, it is time for the media in America to continually emphasize that it is the Oligarchs that influence elections, far more than the Russians ever have and ever will. The trouble is, the owners of the media are part of the Oligarchs.
15
The Europe-Japan deal was a sign that, since the U.S. is now a disruptive, unreliable partner, the world is moving on to mutually beneficial, profitable trade without us. There will be many more such deals.
This outcome has been inevitable since the moment Trump began his idiocy about "easy to win" trade wars. This is 1930's thinking - and it was a disaster then.
The post WWII world order has been constructed of, by and for the U.S. more than any other nation. Yes, globalism hurt American workers in certain industries, but that price has already been paid (and much of the pain has been exacerbated by GOP policies hostile to the middle class and poor.) Turning our backs now on world leadership and the payoff of that investment is insane.
In the long run, Trumpism will make us considerably poorer, while also rendering us incapable of cooperating on other vital issues like security and climate change. Enjoy all the winning.
17
Let’s add Christian Nationalists and the NRA to the shortlist of traitors.
Yes, Europe and Asia: You are on your own.
Support each other and don't sit around waiting for us to be part of the program. We're out of the game.
We, the People of The United States of America have been overtaken in a "bloodless coup". We are now being held captive by some New York crook. (Sorry, New York, but you are the ones who claimed he was a bright and shiny toy and laughed at his sexual excesses, his ripping off his contractors, and his mindless yammering about Obama being a Kenyan, a racist, indeed. Next time, vet your heroes a little better!)
Don't wait for us.
We're busy aiding and abetting the Crook-In-Chief in dismantling this nation.
We are under attack from a dozen LEGAL organizations: ALEC, evangelicals, Freedom Caucus, Heritage, Federalist Society, abettors like Ginny Thomas and the Koch Bros., libertarians, losers, and the KKK.
We're busy.
Move on.
We're out of the economic and ethic games.
I hope you can do better than we ever did.
Try not to create any more theocracies or Banana Republics.
We weren't so good on that.
Due to Climate Change, our abdication shall be permanent.
My best to you.
rosa
16
@rosa Don't blame New York for this mess. The city has always despised Trump, mostly laughing at his antics and treating him like a local side show act, which he was. They overwhelmingly rejected him in the election, and the city that know him well is the source of the citizens' backlash that's spreading around the world.
4
Rosa, Trump never was nor will ever be New York’s hero! If there is a city that knows him well for what he is ,that city is New York !
NY might be many things , but never a Trump supporter. What you said rings more true with “his base” . To his ardent followers , he is a hero.
2
Perhaps the time has come that the collaboration of non-Trump nations,organizations and individuals consider to transform the present global governance system by taking the looming climate catastrophe seriously and by transforming the unjust, unsustainable and, therefore, unstable international monetary system which still is dominated by the US.
Though immediately after the 2008 financial crisis serious thought was given by the UN and other organizations to devise an international monetary system that would not be based upon the “exorbitant privilege” of one country’s currency and that could start using SDRs as a transaction and reserve currency.
Such SDR based system would be a good transition system on the way to a carbon-based international monetary system where a specific tonnage of CO2e per person would become the monetary standard. The conceptual, institutional, ethical and strategic dimensions of such carbon-based system are presented in Verhagen 2012 "The Tierra Solution: Resolving the climate crisis through monetary transformation" and updated at www.timun.net.
An outstanding climate specialist and noted economic thinker and author declared about this proposed global governance system: “The further into the global warming area we go, the more physics and politics narrows our possible paths of action. Here’s a very cogent and well-argued account of one of the remaining possibilities.” Bill McKibben, May 17, 2011
3
@Frans Verhagen In all sincerity, I'm surprised the U.S. has been able to maintain such a stranglehold on the international monetary system, including dollar primacy. This primacy of the dollar, and the trading by mostly Wall Street, I believe is why so many nations in the developing world struggle (Wall St. (D.C. North)driving down the price of foreign currencies through short derivatives trading). No doubt, Muslims have been a bit irritated. I suspect similar trading in food derivatives in the 1930's led to Hitler and WWII. The Trump dynamic is likely to loosen it and the Chinese currency gold backed for oil transactions is likely only just the beginning.
If I were an official in the government of Montenegro I would be very worried right now. Add to that the Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Norway.....
8
US should find the spine to punish Russia for interfering in its elections. Russia tried its hand in France and elsewhere and I am sure funded the Brexit campaign ever so successfully. Another referendum will hopefully reverse this disaster. But the US is a past master in such meddling. Now China has joined the fray; it unsuccessfully tried to influence the poll in Sri Lanka and must surely be doing so effectively in Pakistan. Can democracies not find ways to stop this deadly menace?
5
To the EU, thank you for standing up to this bully.
24
For Trumpers, every country having an international free trade agreement with the US is taking advantage of their country. Right? So now that EU, Japan, Canada, China... are all making new deals without the USA, they are all taking advantage of... who exactly? But they are doing it. Right? Stupid them!
For Trumpers, US allies are taking advantage of its military protection, that’s why the USA can’t invest in schools, infrastructure, can’t have as many vacation as the Europeans or retire earlier. Ok, the US have troops stationed overseas, but... only 5% on the US military budget of the US goes to NATO according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (31 of 603 billions) while the Europeans are spending 239 billions. Europeans have to be much smarter than the US to be able to pay for their schools, infrastructure, vacation, earlier retirement... with these 5% difference, right? Or maybe it is because the US don’t really need all these 95 other percent?
For Trumpers, life is a 0 sum life experience, with winners vs losers, as it was the norm regarding international relations until the mid-19th, when countries started to realize that stronger neighbors offered better trade opportunities. This only required that these other countries were either neutral or allies, at least trustworthy. Right? And Trump thinks the same socially; more rights to gays, minorities... means less for the Whites. Trumpers, will you have the honesty to admit what you are standing for?
15
Under Trump the United States will slip further and further back into isolation and insignificance. Should China, Japan and the European Union ever get together, the USA will be further diminished as an economic powerhouse capable of setting trade rules.
Trump can have his expensive military parade but that will not make America great. Neither will an unnecessarily huge military budget at the expense of ignoring infrastructure, education and health care. Only a return to international and domestic civility and fact based policies, of which a Trump led administration is incapable, will bring luster back to our grand old flag.
A Democratic landslide in November would be a start.
21
@Marvin Raps
Don't forget India and Iran, and US is an ocean away so your best bet is South America. Although China is having a ball there right now!
Our Allies were our Allies for a reason.
They're of similar ideals, and behave in rational, predictable ways vis a vis other world stage actors.
8
Trump's only allies are Putin, Kim Jong Un and the rest of the autocrats in the world (e.g. Erdogan, Xi JinPing...).
He has declared NATO (Western Europe; not Turkey) as our foe; they USED to be our allies..
6
Let the EU do their thing with their own money. The US should not contribute one penny to EU operations. Maybe they are finally learning to stand on their own two feet without expecting the US to bankroll them.
I am all for their doing things on their own without US involvement or US money.
5
@ judyweller Wait until Germany decides to start making arms again. You think we will be exporting 80 Billion dollars of US armaments around the globe?
What many people miss about NATO is it doesn't just provide bases of operations, doctors for US military operations. They provide a free showrooms for US arms that are dealt across the globe.
4
@ judyweller - You do realize it goes both ways right? Perhaps you can ponder this sometime after the next recession hits you.
1
Great. let them finally pull their weight.
2
Go at it, Europe. We don’t blame you one bit.
9
It’s all a circular firing squad. For decades American companies have outsourced and off-shored their production at the expense of American jobs. This is all for the benefit of of their shareholders. Care to guess who those people are? You and me; people who have 401ks, pensions and any variety of investments. One American demographic can maybe *some day* retire while another certainly can’t. Meanwhile, the wealthy sit back, relax and consolidate power irrespective of country. They are the only ones that are truly “winning”.
5
Europeans are acting like a person in an abusive relationship. They know that China is cheating and stealing and acting like a bully but they are more afraid of change than they are of China.
For years and years we have heard political candidate after political candidate complain about China. In the states we have heard many a Democrat complain about free trade. Now that someone is attempting to do something about it they are scared to death.
I guess all that complaining wasn't real?
3
The so-called president is making GREAT progress toward isolating the US.
With a GDP close to the US, the EU has an opportunity to make trade deals that not only leave the US out, but can work against us. Of particular note is the expansion of the auto industry in China.
Perhaps the so-called president is betting on a weakening of the EU and hoping to ally the US with Russia. If so, he makes a costly mistake.
8
@Bartokas
I take your point, Bartokas. But remember that the real estate boom & bust occurred in European countries as well.
Remember the PIGS: Portugal, Italy, Greece, Spain? And there was Ireland too.
The banks of Europe were also complicit, of course.
Collaterally, BRIC nations finally fell apart as well, Brazil, Russia, India, China.
Who emerges now? China, certainly, the original immerging rival of other economic powers.
Yes, the world economy needs a balancing factor. A strong EU is one example.
As for Russia: she calculates that dissembling and destruction of rivals is her only way out of her messy situation.
Hence her concentration on wrecking the Western alliances.
5
And when the UN wisely moves to Toronto...
10
@CWellmer
and takes the Statue of Liberty, which we no longer deserve, with them......
6
Most New York city residents would welcome the day that the U.N. moved somewhere else.
2
@Forsythia715 And to give Her a nice decent Canadian touch we would add a door she is holding open for someone.
I now, beyond the shadow of a doubt,
am sure that Trump is one of the active weapons in Putin's arsenal;
a weapon which Putin selected to put into the presidency of the USA;
that Putin, using cyber war, did this by destroying Hillary's image and her campaign;
and, as well, by effecting a large split between Hillary supporters and Bernie supporters.
Trump in office is in service of Putin's agenda of destroying America's political system.
Trump being forced out of office now would create a constitutional crisis and political crisis which would affect another kind of destructiveness.
Thus, one way or the other, Putin has been and is using this weapon, Trump.
I hope, for the sake of the well-being of the nation, that the Republican Party Establishment stops trying to save itself by keeping Trump in office;
and rather joins in getting Trump out of office now;
and once done, joins with the Democrats to put another person in the presidency,
but definitely not Pence,
someone with such stature to heal the nation;
a republican of the stature of Mc Cain, (who cannot serve since he is passing on)
and someone of the stature of Biden, if not Biden himself,
this arrangement with the Republican as President and the Democrat as Vice President.
9
@Lenny Putin used a cyber war to destroy Hillary's image? Did he start that war in the 90's because that is when her image started it's downward trajectory.
1
The barbarians are at the gate. Bad policy is aiding and abetting them. Their power is solidifying. Their increased power will not be undonemby distractive political chicanery on President Trump’s part.
Clearly, it is time for the Praetorian Guard to intervene. Trump is becoming increasingly paranoid and delusional. Those holding political power have done crazy things when, like Trump, they were cornered and fearful.
Trump is currently cornered by both Putin and Mueller, and is exceedingly fearful.
The cornered Emperors Nero, Caligula and Commodus were all—like Trump—narcissistic, paranoid and delusional. The Roman Empire and Republic were long ago consigned to the dustbin of history.
Will Trump soon be consuming Big Macs while D.C. burns?
But, of course, America is exceptional: The American Republic and the imperial hegemony of American corporations (backed by US military might) could never be eclipsed by internal disorder, by fruitless military adventures and by the rise of barbarian counter forces. We are certain of that, right guys?
Guys? Guys . . .?
5
@Andrew G. Bjelland, Sr.
"Clearly, it is time for the Praetorian Guard to intervene. "
So there really is a deep state and you are calling on them to stop Trump?
2
@Steve, I was referring to the Generals Kelley and Mattis who are already on Trump’s “team” and who remain there to protect the Constitution and the American people against Trump’s impulsiveness, bad judgement, mendacity, and other moral and psychological faults.
The U.S. is rapidly becoming the outsider in global alliances due to Trump and his isolationist irrational policies.
Europe will now form stronger sociopath-economic relationships with Russia and China out of necessity, further isolating the U.S. Asia and Australiawill become Sinocentric within their sphere of influence.
NATO might very well cease to exist in favor of more regional alliances. Multi-national trade agreements have been rejected by The Dotard as well as critical climate accords - all in favor of quick and massive domestic profits for Trump and his Cabal at the expense of the average taxpayer.
We are being forced into a hole from which we may never re-emerge by a criminal Trumplican administration. Immediate action is necessary to prevent total isolation.
I fail to understand why Trump's cult members do not see this and the fact that he has done NOTHING to actually help this country, despite his innumerable lies, propaganda and misrepresentations.
Can America be bought and deceived by a few temporary dollars in taxpayers' pockets and false propaganda falsely telling them how "wonderful" things are. I would hope not, but this appears to be the case.
10
@RealTRUTH
This is what trump/putin base want...an isolated country with an all white male ruling government. I keep hoping that something is going to break quickly to slow the downfall of the US but it doesn't seem to happen fast enough. As it is said you have to hit bottom before there is change. Man I would have thought we had hit bottom already.
6
Obviously such a matter is artificially hyped by the mainstream media to press on Trump. Concerning a reasonable way of thinking, it's impossible to infer any western part - the both sides of the Atlantic - partnering the Chinese against the 'other' Atlantic side. Even the Chinese don't wish such a partnership with people who historically brings them bad memories, as the heinous period of the late 19th century.
Both sides of the Atlantic: don't worry with China! China doesn't want to join you in any way but on trade. Only!
How on earth could China partner people who still withhold its relics stolen from the Summer Palace against a nation that historically passed racist laws against the Chinese who, even so, helped them to build the railroads to expand westward?
6
To answer your question, the same way as France, UK etc. are now working with Germany, or the US with Japan. And it’s ‘only’ 80-year old, not 160. Grand and grand-grand...-grandchildren live in accordance with their time, perhaps should you too as well.
2
The United States has built the society of human ideal that other countries envy, and , at the same time, has kept ugly parts of human nature that same other countries are concerned of. The world outside of the U.S. will survive probably with prosperity. It is a great chance for all of us to learn what is important and what is not.
2
By the time we react to this presidency it will be too late. We will be in the same situation as Russia today, a has been. But of course, we will have a royal family and a few rich accolades. USA no more thanks to bernie and his followers, susan sarandon, the youth and women who refused to support Hillary and the traitors that helped the russians putting their agent in our white house.
12
Bernie should be president.
Women and young people are our best hope.
Are you suggesting we not have primaries?
What are you saying exactly?
Blame everybody except trump and Putin?
1
Sooner or later, the US Congress -- and those who "lead" it -- will have to choose between Trump and America.
13
The GOP know how to make America great again. What Trump and GOP have done is to destableize our security I am sure made the damage done to our allies irreparable for all time.
3
Not Europe and China have never seen Trump like a real leader but also from Mexico all the way to the South Pole...
They deal with him because they have no option, like many of us...
It's really embarrassing...
3
So much winning!
3
Despite the bully-in-the-junior-cafeteria attitude, Mr. Trump's foreign policy, while destructive, is not a major departure from past presidents. Each of the last two presidents and Mrs. Clinton argued for a reset with Russian, and Mr. Obama was willing to accept the Russian annexing of the Crimea, as was Mr. Bush their boarder adjustments with Georgia, etc. as sphere of influence necessity. Most have been acquiescent to Putin's disregard for human rights and the rule of law as a "hell that's what sovereignty is all about" scornful acceptance. Moreover, NATO and relations with the EU are also in need of a reset after seventy years of little brother indulgence. As do relations with China.And yes we do need to get out of Iraq, Afganistan and Syria. These issues resonate deeply with the American electorate, who have long felt the burdens of world leadership. The United States does need to turn inward. Wars and the interests of the military industrial complex have been political diversions from the resolution of our own needs. We have carried the burden for three wars against terrorism that have plagued Europe more than us, while being lectured for our aggressiveness. None of this is to say Mr. Trump is more than the bumbling incompetent he obviously is. But his destruction of the off kilter world order has great value, speaks to deep American discontents more diplomatic language frustrates, and will provide new leadership with an opportunity for a creative reset.
4
@Dan There is "reset" with involvement of our elected congress in the decision who have the best interests of our country in mind, and there is total surrender--not "creative reset"--by one person appointed by the outdated electoral college and not the majority of Americans.
2
"(T)he rules-based order the United States created after World War II and championed ever since" is the predicate we've used for decades to base enormous spending and to justify the greatest military budget the world has ever known.
We created the system and thus the need to play the role of the World's Policeman. And we've run up a massive national debt in doing so.
And now that Trump is attacking and tearing down that system, there is no reason to continue spending the same vast amounts on such an aggressive offensive military. If Trump's new vision for America is to tuck tail and cower before the Russians, seal our borders, block immigrants and adopt a go-it-alone brand of isolationism, then we don't need to spend a trillion dollars a year to police the four corners of the globe.
2
@medianoneYet he is increasing military spending and throwing himself a military parade
What's with the "Stunned indecision"?
This is nonsense. EU Trade officias have been negotiating this for years, and they started long before Trump came to power.
The planet does not revolve around the United States of America!
10
The economy is like water. It always finds the path of least resistance. America is a land of spenders, not savers. On a personal level, remember the people that spent and mortgaged their way to looking wealthy before the recession? They are the same ones that bit the bullet on the way down the drain when reality hit. The people with the cash suffered, but kept what was already bought and paid for.
3
Yes Europe has to do this, get their act together without the US and even against it. It is very clear that Russian strategy is to divide both the EU and NATO, two western alliances that clearly are against Russian interests. Brexit is great for Putin as it further divides the EU so we may find it was promoted by Putin as well. Trump is great for Putin every time he supports Brexit or disses NATO. And Trump is a willing participant and Putin supporter in dismantling these alliances for whatever reason. Just that comment about Montenegro, very revealing, no accident, this was Putin-inspired. Montenegro joining the EU and NATO should be a celebration and a big win for the West, including the US so very scary that Trump said what he did.
18
" (...) the Japan-European Union trade deal, which cuts customs duties on European wine and cheese in exchange for gradually lowered tariffs on Japanese cars.
For Japan, the deal represented a clear hedge against Mr. Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on Japanese cars, but it also gave Europe the kind of access to Japanese agricultural markets that the Trans-Pacific Partnership would have granted to the United States if it had joined."
So apparently everybody is making deals today, except ... Trump.
All he got for American businesses is job losses because of his high tariffs, and that's it.
And the exact same thing goes for all other issues on which candidate Trump had not only proposed deals, but much better deals than what anybody had ever achieved before:
- no deal with North Korea
- no deal with Iran
- no new NAFTA deal
- no Syria deal
- no deal with Russia
- no deal with Mexico (wall, immigrants, drugs, crime).
And then we're even not talking about domestic policy yet, where even though his own party controls all levels of the government, after 18 months in office he still didn't manage to negotiate ANY deal either. Nothing (except for a deficit doubling tax handout to the GOP's wealthiest donors). Zero.
- no comprehensive immigration reform bill
- no wall
- no repeal and replace Obamacare (after all these years neither the GOP nor Trump even have a PLAN that would or could improve Obamacare, let alone are capable of tough negotiations leading to real results).
31
Well, if we get too excluded from Europe and China, looks like we very well may need to team with Russia! Lol.
2
Goooo, Europe. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
19
US shareholders have spent decades demanding that production be shifted to low-wage countries, leaving the US with an economy reliant on imported good for consumption, services, and the military rather than production. American workers seem suddenly startled, but it’s been 60 years in the making. Ours is a ginormous economy, but no longer the world’s largest. And without a seat at the table, how will our interests be protected? Our Administration has abandoned us.
31
@crissy - This should be an NYT pick.
3
@crissy
Agreed, all for a hotel in Moscow
5
The language of the EU is always strong and striking, the actions much less. As much as the main EU players try to paper their differences, the reality is that from the Balkans, to Northern Europe, to the Mediterranean States the diverging interests on the main strategic issues like immigration, security and economic policy have never been so strong and laden with potential internal conflicts. To begin with, the Europeans have to realize that as long as they remain a military paper tiger, they will not have much weight on the global world scene. For all the rhetoric the days of a strong, united
Europe are still light years ahead.
1
@Paul Eckert
Maybe. Maybe not.
In the meanwhile, it's the EU that is making deals with China and Japan that are good for both sides, whereas the US is so divided by lies that its president is now an ignorant and incompetent puppet of NATO foe Russia.
Yes, the US has the strongest military. But the EU has the best education, healthcare, social security, wages, environmental laws ... and trade deals.
As to cultural diversity: you seem to forget that in the US, diversity is the norm, not the exception? Hundreds of millions of people can perfectly be as diverse as they are united. Diversity isn't a problem, division is.
10
Even if I partially agree, I will also say that having weaknesses doesn’t mean that you are weak. Ask Google. Or that being strong doesn’t mean that you are all powerful. Ask the US.
2
I will agree with you on principle, however the US’ diversity cannot historically be compared to Europe’s. Europe has been, for many many thousand years (it might have started with the Vikings), crisscrossed by bloodthirsty invaders, people and so called nations, led by brutal tyrants, kings, queens, emperors, popes, etc. that kept the continent in a state of more or less constant bloodbath. The American Civil War is a walk in the park in comparison. Europe ‘s “diversity” is still filled with horror and this collective neurosis even if not quite conscious, perpetuates itself much longer throughout the generations, than many would like. Still today the millennium generation hears stories about their grandparents and great grandparents having suffered inhumanely during WWI an WWII. As well intentioned as the EU might be, this European (sad) history will not be brushed aside so easily with the reverse of the hand.
This is all bittersweet news to me on the brink of moving to the EU. Our hope was always that we'd spend equal time in Europe and the US, but it's looking more and more likely that it'll become a permanent move--sort of like what all of our (former) trading partners are doing: moving on.
28
@Terry Malouf
How interesting. Seventy years on, we look to Germany for leadership. We saved them, and maybe they will have to save us from the administration of one of their grandsons when this administration is over.
6
@Joanne--perfect response; thank you. We have several friends as well as family in Germany (my grandmother's maiden name is "Berl," as in Berlin or "Berl's Inn").
'Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.' --George Santayana
India, here we come.
Or maybe Africa, but with air conditioning.
Actually, there are lots of things to admire about India, and probably Africa too, but I just didn't think I'd ever fully experience living in a third-world country until Trump took office.
17
A Children's Story.
The big bully Trump intimidates everyone else on the playground. He says I am the biggest and strongest. My economy is the greatest in the world. Do what I say or else. So the rest of the world told the big bully, OK we will move to another playground and play by ourselves without you.
So they left and made up some new rules that benefited only them. The organized into new teams and set up their new leagues. It was difficult at first. Opponents became team members. They worked out their differences and got along.
Soon the new leagues prospered. Everyone else in the world wanted to play with them. They liked the new rules and new leagues grew. Attendance at the games increased each year.
The big bully had no one to play with. He got weaker and weaker from lack of people to play with. So he went to Ohio and had rallies every week. But eventually those dried up because the people had no jobs for lack of play.
Then the bully could only spend his time on Fox News and call out for the server demon to be punished. But the server demon does not exist.
The only thing the bully had left to do was bounce his Russian soccer ball all by himself.
Morel of the story. Don't be a bully and always try to get along with everyone else or you will end up all alone.
80
If the stable mucking genius were playing a game of Monopoly, no one would trade with him and he'd be the first to lose.
24
Analysis has confirmed that over the last several weeks and as hard as it is to comprehend, Trump is actually increasing his lying and espousing continuing contradictory statements on issues.
I don't care who you are and what country you lead, how can one possibly expect to try to deal with such an individual that is obviously continuing to bounce in and out of reality? The answer? It is impossible.
67
@Deus - sources of analysis, please.
@Mr. Slater - Pick up any news source from anywhere in the world and you can see that Trump is lying even more frequently.
As Trump slides towards the early demise of his administration, he remains committed on behalf of Putin to taking America down with him.
33
You can say what you want, but my retirement account saw explosive growth since Trump was elected. Remember, James Carville, Clinton's advisor, he said it best "It's the economy stupid ".
5
Sure-all of in the market prospered. Most Americans get no benefit though. Plus, the market also peaked in 1928, 1987, 2001 and of course more recently in 2007, with $1 Trillion added to deficit & the the sugar high of the tax cut aging away, and a trade looming, 2017/2018 could be another ‘great year’
6
@Tom ,Retired Florida Junkman
The market exploded for 8 years under Obama so please don’t tell us about how great Trump has been for the markets and the economy. All of the fundamentals in the economy improved during those 8 years so Trump came into office riding a strong improvement in the economy from the disaster Obama had inherited from the last Republican administration. This year the markets have essentially been flat so the question is will you be open to putting the blame on Trump if the economy goes south which the new Fed chairman gave equal chances for.
28
@Tom ,Retired Florida Junkman. As long as you get yours, right? That certainly seems to be at the heart of Trump’s motivations—as long as he gets his.
16
Some good news. I am happy to see the rest of the world getting to their feet after Double Negative’s performances, and making other arrangements to preserve global partnerships and even make some new deals with China.
This may actually be something good that comes out of this terrible time. Then we will have someplace to go back to when this nightmare ends.
38
The end doesn't justify the means.
While the rest of the world might stumble at times they will eventually get their act together to the detriment of the USA.
Then we will be truly alone.
50
I’m glad I’m retired. I wouldn’t want to be in business with this national disaster running the White House.
60
China is marching on with our allies to become the new global super power, a role now held by the US.
That leadership role for the US is fading each day that DJT is in office.
Meanwhile DJT openly challenges intelligence information from our own government. For now, putin must be happy with the puppet he bought.
51
Americans can only hope that other national leaders in Europe and Asia see the risks in the economic and political chaos Trump's actions have created, and are able to restore some order without U.S. leadership. I fear that we Americans may have a steep price to pay, but it would be better for the world if some stability was achieved so that we don't slip into global war.
35
It too bad that money seems to be the only motivator of direct action these days.
While I applaud the European actions, it’s quite disappointing that our citizens, including our past presidents, can’t muster the courage to speak up, or better yet, actually do something for their country.
22
Wouldn't be surprised that they may also be picking up the phone and calling us for some advice...
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/.../canada/canadas-trump-strategy-go-aro......
5
"Denial, anger, bargaining, depression...."
Sounds like the authors believe this is a grieving process.
I suggest it's more like another episode in the 'Taken' franchise.
3
Better we go at it alone anyway.....
2
@There - Fascinating. What proof do you have to support this assertion? When has this attitude ever worked well?
4
It is starting to sink in that Trump may not be gone very soon, and that is why there is (delayed) action now. At first, it seemed that the nightmare would soon pass, or that it was all just a joke.
I read that Trump's popularity is actually rising slightly at the moment, and that he has a good chance of being reelected as long as he manages to win certain Midwestern states. (Oh, that unfair election system!) Please no....
I cannot imagine how Americans must be feeling. I am so sorry.
94
@Elisabeth This American feels shocked, embarrassed, and I fear for the future of our county. I will to not live long enough to see all the damage Trump has caused in so many ways, both domestic and internationally.
My husband is a naturalized citizen, originally, from Germany. We have family and friends in Germany, so all of us keep a close eye on what is happening both in Germany and Europe as a whole. So, we are doubly embarrassed, et al.
I weep for how far we have fallen.
36
@Elisabeth
Ultimately, American voters made their choice. The mid-terms will determine once and for all America's direction for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, I am no longer sorry, the election of Trump and the over whelming support for Republicans at both the state and federal levels prove one thing, this is who they really are.
27
@Deus We all have about 30% to 40 % of the population that is susceptible to populist and or authoritarian ideas. But in your country and mine, a numerical minority would not be able to win the senate and the presidency. There is something wrong in the system in the US. We should not blame the liberal majority in the US for not being able to beat an election system whose set-up is to their disadvantage
Trump is making the U.S. irrelevant, regardless of its buying power or military might. The rest of the world is right to bypass the U.S and get on. The only question is whether the demise of the U.S. as the world power will be irreversible.
90
If you don't act like a responsible, trustworthy, wise leader, you don't get to be leader. Others will take on the role(s). One might learn that as a Girl Scout Patrol leader or at Harvard Law School. Sadly for USA, Trump, from the school of bullying and bluster, didn't learn it.
116
@joanI could not have put it better, thank you for your clarity.
11
I believe this is the way forward, as long as the current White House tenant remains in place. It is the way to rescue world commerce and world economic growth from the constant attacks by the current White House tenant. Notice that the combined GDP of China, Japan and the European Union is more than twice the GDP of the USA. The world economy should decouple itself as much as possible from the US economy in the years to come, not least to insulate the world economy from another US financial crisis.
141
"The rules-based order the United States created after World War II." Sorry, you need to give a lot of credit to the Brits and even the Canadians for what emerged from WWII. The post WWII structure was a result of Anglo American negotiations. The on the decline Brits played a key role in ensuring that while the Bretton Woods agreement signed by 44 countries allowed the dominant US economy with its focus on opening markets to its goods and investment also paid attention to employment and stabilisation. The US as an emerging hegemonic power was all for open markets the Brits , Germans, Japanese were much more concerned with allowing for domestic intervention to support employement and stable economies. It all turned out pretty well but then as now people were simply pursuing their own interests. But back then we seemed to have people with the intellectual firepower to conceptualize their own "interests" more broadly and beyond the next quarter.
95
It is well past time that the EU and China started working together. Quite frankly, I have more sympathy with China than I do with the EU on many of these issues. The West created the rules of the system to benefit itself and maintain its economic and political superiority - a superiority gained through violence, conquest and intimidation over centuries. The fact that China "cheats" to make up the lost ground is hardly surprising or, given the context, particularly objectionable. That being said, it is the US that is the problem here. The rest of the world recognizes that the big problems of the world require cooperation. This realization contrasts directly with Trump's "every country for itself" mantra - an attitude, BTW, that he advances precisely because he believes that the US is best positioned to benefit in such a winner take all environment. And, of course, it is impossible to criticize China's "cheating" as the US breaks every law in international trade and threatens the stability of the entire world system all for its (supposed) selfish gain. The US needs to be isolated and contained. The rest of the world, hopefully, will find the courage and common interest to do just that.
49
The U.S. is the 3rd largest economy in the world. China and Europe constitute the two largest. It makes sense that now, in the 21st Century the U.S. will continue to decline as "the greatest country in the world." Other than its military, the only distinctive economic drivers in the U.S. are based on consumption. Americans are big buyers, but the shift to production is now in the hands of other countries. This didn't happen over night. American corporations and their precious shareholders have been pushing manufacturing off-shore for decades. And now Americans are surprised that we aren't producing high-paying jobs in this sector or that there are other significant players in the game? There's no law that states the U.S. should be the "winner" in this game.
134
So for those reasons we shouldn’t be shouldering 90% of the cost of keeping the world’s oceans safe for trade by the EU, China, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, etc.
Come home America.
@mrfreeze6 US economy is largest and is forcast to remain that way for a few years: The nominal GDP for the U.S. and China for the year 2022 is estimated at $23.76 trillion and $17.71 trillion respectively,
1
As a small businessman with a wine producing company in Chile, all I know is that our company is being swamped with new orders (from buyers who used to import California wine?).
And in Brazil, where we have a rail-car leasing company that mainly deals with soybean exporters, demand is skyrocketing. Soybean prices are soaring as China shifts its purchases to the 2nd largest producer in the world, while Brazilian crushers are buying depressed priced US beans for domestic use.
Wow what a deal maker! Thank you Mr. Trump!
But seriously, how long can we tolerate this nincompoop? A compulsive liar, totally devoid of any moral compass, stiffs friend & foe alike, indiscriminately, and is damaging our country’s image in the world in a way that will take a long time to recuperate.
Who are the people who allegedly support him? Are they unable to read? Have they no knowledge of the values on which our country was founded? I am quite frankly dumbfounded!
30
@Richard Huber
I strongly suspect yours is not a unique, isolated story. I live in a state where the eastern half is largely an agrarian society and pulled heavily for the Traitor in Chief. And they will again in 2020, regardless of the pain they will feel between now and then.
It's all about Roe.
4
A world economic and political order that learns to excise and work around the United States is teaching the world that the U.S. is no long indispensible to its prosperity and security. This is momentous business. If the Republican Party loves America, it will do its best to get rid of Trump's leadership within it.
6