'The Artifice of the Deal'

'The Artifice of the Deal'

Contrary to the title of President Trump’s best-selling book, “The Art of the Deal,” there’s no art in Trump’s actual deals. There is, however, a great deal of artifice.   The book’s very authorship is a sham, according to its ghost writer Tony Schwartz, and Howard Kaminsky, the publisher, both of whom claim Trump played no role in the writing. In reality, Trump’s “art” of making deals amounts to bullying, intimidating, suing, extorting, bribing…

Donald Trump’s tariff policy has shaken global trade and fragile balances of power. China is looking for ways to take advantage at sea of international diplomacy. Read

The Fire Hose of Chaos: The “Deal" With the Chinese - Zeihan on Geopolitics

Trade tensions are taking their toll on an already fragile Chinese system. The US is dealing with self-sufficiency problems, but for China, it is an existential question. Will this new deal change that?The Chinese economy relies on cheap capital to keep people employed and distracted; the idea is that social stability will keep people busy enough to avoid unrest. Surprise, surprise, that system is unsustainable. Throw in all the other issues pla…

Trump’s deals cast China both as foe and prize, blurring signals

(TNS) Pick through the details of recent U.S. trade negotiations and an outline of Donald Trump’s vision for the global economy starts to come into focus. As do its contradictions.