this will probably sound incredible, and the whole exercise started almost by mistake. Do United Kingdom, and Japan, both agreed to ratify trade agreements with the United States, both of these nations, did this weeks ago. A rather reasonable question was ask of the Japanese by a French journalist, as to the process for having the trade agreements in place.
So far, so reasonable. however, there’s a small problem. And it’s a Japanese who gave away the farm. According to the minister of foreign affairs in Tokyo, there has been no exchange of document between the Japanese and the American government. The enterprising journalist, whose lives in Japan, made inquiries. With the Vietnamese, foreign affairs department, the Indonesian, foreign affairs department, and eventually, with the European union for foreign affairs department in all cases, he found the same answer. Since the initial announcement of trade agreements, absolutely nothing has been done.
I think it’s important to understand, that trade is complex, but it also indicates a far more serious problem. The American government does not have the bandwidth to do the real work. In fact, listen to Scott Besson, the secretary of trade in Washington DC, he essentially washed his hand of the whole process. He actually said on television, that he was not involved in the Japanese, Vietnamese, Indonesian, British, or European union trade agreement drafting. In fact, he couldn’t even say who was involved.
It all makes sense, when Trump came to power, he removed at least three levels of civil servants, that were non-parent, and provided the continuity between administrations and the deep knowledge of how to get the job done.
Therefore, there are no trade agreements in place. Firstly, because Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Britain, and the European union all have to present the trade agreement before their elected officials, so it could be adopted. I suspect, that no one saying anything about any of this, because it keeps Trump, and the other crazies off their back.
what it means, is that the whole trade show, has been the Donald Trump variety show for the past five months. It was true in his first administration, it’s even more true in a second. Donald Trump and his team are about the show, and not the substance.
Strange
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