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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIf it walks like a dunce and talks like a dunce ...
[https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/02/robert-lighthizer-trump-memorandums-understanding.amp|Watch Chinese Official Laugh Out Loud as Trump and His Trade Chief Argue on Terminology]
Robert Lighthizer was apparently so exasperated from what he was hearing uttered by President Donald Trumps mouth that he seemingly forgot one of the key rules about the White House: Never contradict the boss. Especially not in public. What followed was a tense two minutes that put on stark display Trumps ignorance of how trade deals work even though he has long touted it as one of his administrations key specialties and the way he keeps himself out of the minutiae of the deals that he says are key. In the middle of it all, a top Chinese official couldnt help but let out a loud laugh, seemingly incredulous at what was unfolding before his eyes.
It all started when Trump was asked a question about how long he thought that the so-called memorandums of understanding would last in an agreement with China. Earlier reports noted negotiators have been writing up several MOUs in key areas that would make up the outline of a larger deal. It was an easy enough question but Trump decided to suddenly expound on his feelings about MOUs in general.
I dont like MOUs because they dont mean anything. To me they dont mean anything. I think youre better off just going into a document. I was never a fan of an MOU, Trump said. It could have ended there but Lighthizer decided to jump in and although he didnt look directly at the president, it certainly looked like he was contradicting his boss. An MOU is a binding agreement between two people, he said. Its detailed. It covers everything in great detail. Its a legal term. Its a contract.
Trump looked annoyed as Lighthizer was talking and as soon as he was done, he made sure to know that his words were meaningless. By the way, I disagree, Trump told reporters and the gathered Chinese delegation. It was at that point that Vice Premier Liu He, the top Chinese negotiator, laughed out loud. I think that a Memorandum of Understanding is not a contract to the extent that we want, Trump said. Were doing a Memorandum of Understanding that will be put into a final contract, I assume. But to me the final contract is really the thing, Bob, and I think you mean that too. And then he went on to note that the real question was how long will it take to put that into a final binding contract?
This appeared to be the latest instance of Trump seemingly being more worried about how an agreement was marketed than what it actually contained. It happened last year as well, when Trump was responsible for pushing a name change to the North American Free Trade Agreement, known as Nafta, to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA.
It all started when Trump was asked a question about how long he thought that the so-called memorandums of understanding would last in an agreement with China. Earlier reports noted negotiators have been writing up several MOUs in key areas that would make up the outline of a larger deal. It was an easy enough question but Trump decided to suddenly expound on his feelings about MOUs in general.
I dont like MOUs because they dont mean anything. To me they dont mean anything. I think youre better off just going into a document. I was never a fan of an MOU, Trump said. It could have ended there but Lighthizer decided to jump in and although he didnt look directly at the president, it certainly looked like he was contradicting his boss. An MOU is a binding agreement between two people, he said. Its detailed. It covers everything in great detail. Its a legal term. Its a contract.
Trump looked annoyed as Lighthizer was talking and as soon as he was done, he made sure to know that his words were meaningless. By the way, I disagree, Trump told reporters and the gathered Chinese delegation. It was at that point that Vice Premier Liu He, the top Chinese negotiator, laughed out loud. I think that a Memorandum of Understanding is not a contract to the extent that we want, Trump said. Were doing a Memorandum of Understanding that will be put into a final contract, I assume. But to me the final contract is really the thing, Bob, and I think you mean that too. And then he went on to note that the real question was how long will it take to put that into a final binding contract?
This appeared to be the latest instance of Trump seemingly being more worried about how an agreement was marketed than what it actually contained. It happened last year as well, when Trump was responsible for pushing a name change to the North American Free Trade Agreement, known as Nafta, to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA.
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If it walks like a dunce and talks like a dunce ... (Original Post)
UpInArms
Feb 2019
OP
Ohiogal
(32,047 posts)1. What a total embarrassment he is
Wounded Bear
(58,698 posts)2. Has Trump ever followed an agreement he joined into with anybody...
Lugnut
(9,791 posts)3. He's an idiot.
Jeffersons Ghost
(15,235 posts)4. K&R for a 5th rec n/t