Thread: Trump escalates his threats to blow up trade deals: 'I would withdraw from the WTO'

Trump escalates his threats to blow up trade deals: 'I would withdraw from the WTO'

Gregory Korte, USA TODAY
Published 6:36 p.m. ET Aug. 30, 2018

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump threatened to upend the rules of global trade on Thursday, saying he would pull out of the World Trade Organization unless it adopts rules more favorable to the United States.

“If they don’t shape up, I would withdraw from the WTO,” Trump told Bloomberg News.

Trump has long been frustrated with the WTO, which sets the standards and rules that govern other international trade agreements, and provides a forum for resolving disputes. He specifically wants the Geneva-based body to take a tougher stance on China's steel dumping and theft of U.S. intellectual property.

But Trump's remark on Thursday marks his most explicit threat to withdraw from the WTO yet.

Just last month, he expressed a desire to work with other countries to reform the WTO from within the organization. "WTO has treated the United States very badly, and I hope they change their ways," he said then. "And we're not planning anything now, but if they don't treat us properly, we will be doing something."

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders later explained that while the president is frustrated by the organization, "that is not accurate that the U.S. is leaving the WTO."

Congress voted in 1994 to join the WTO, which replaced an earlier post-World War II pact called the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. So it's unclear what power Trump would have to pull out of the WTO without congressional approval.

The threat comes amid tense negotiations over the North American Free Trade Agreement, which Trump wants to replace with a brand new agreement with Mexico and Canada.

Trump said this week that the United States and Mexico had reached a new bilateral trade deal, noting it would be called the United States-Mexico trade agreement and would replace NAFTA, which he said had “bad connotations” for the United States.

Meanwhile, U.S. and Canadian negotiators continue meeting to overhaul NAFTA.

“We continue to be encouraged by the constructive atmosphere that I think both countries are bringing to the table," Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland told reporters Thursday after leaving a meeting with U.S. Trade Rep. Robert Lighthizer.

Freeland, who is leading Canada’s delegation in the talks with US officials, joined with other top Canadian officials to brief leaders of the country’s provinces and territories on the status of trade negotiations.

Among those on the call were Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ambassador to the U.S. David MacNaughton.

The Associated Press contributed.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...on/1149421002/

Youtube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLM1o-Ncqok

We Are Witnessing The Nation Being Prepared For A New Economic System - Episode 1652a

The Feds inflation indicator jumps and finally hits their target. The Fed has no excuse now but to raise the interest rate to keep the economy from overheating. Trump decides that non military federal employees will not get raises starting in 2019. Strange that he would do this now since the economy is doing so well. This is part of the plan, shutdown departments, stop raises, let go Federal employees. All of this is in preparation for the new economic system.

LOL!! It's not a "new economic system", it's the old American Economic System, before massive immigration and bad trade deals, before huge growth in government, it's the 70's 2.0!!

Originally Posted by Judy

LOL!! It's not a "new economic system", it's the old American Economic System, before massive immigration and bad trade deals, before huge growth in government, it's the 70's 2.0!!

the new old system; I think we are going back to the gold standard

It's possible! It's so exciting to see what's going on. We're rebuilding our economy based on the original Republican American Economic System, a production-based economy, that's fueled by manufacturing output instead of borrowed floated money financing merchants importing on debt and banking on sales fees. Our country can't survive on sales fees, we can't live on retail profits based on a 20% sales fee, we need the entire 100% production and sales fees.

This is what Trump is doing, he's getting our 100% back. Yes, it's called protectionism, that's a good thing, not a bad thing, it you don't protect it, you'll lose it, and when you lose your manufacturing base, you lost your economy, you lost all the good jobs, you lost all the payrolls, you lost all the suppliers and engineering and innovations and you lost the 80 cents on the dollar. That's why we have to borrow and print money all the time because all our dollars flew out of the country in "free trade" deals to other countries.

Trump is reversing that nonsense and fixing our country in so many ways. It's an amazing thing to watch, a thing of beauty, really. It's the most incredible thing I've ever seen. I've been fighting this globalism for 40 years and Trump waltzes in, kicks it in the face, knocks it on its ass, and fixes this mess in less than 18 months. It's unbelievable. Honestly, how people can criticize this man with all he's already done for US with all that he still wants to do and will do is just beyond me.

GO TRUMP GO!!!! (Great rally in Evansville, I'm pumped up!!)

Judy wrote (excerpt):

GO TRUMP GO!!!! (Great rally in Evansville, I'm pumped up!!)

After hearing the border wall lie again, I turned the channel. Honestly, it's getting to the point where it's hard to hear him continuously beat his own drum. He seriously needs some new material. He could get away with this if the rallies weren't televised, but they are.

Originally Posted by MW

Judy wrote (excerpt):



After hearing the border wall lie again, I turned the channel. Honestly, it's getting to the point where it's hard to hear him continuously beat his own drum. He seriously needs some new material. He could get away with this if the rallies weren't televised, but they are.

Proof you are not a Trump Supporter and never were.

Originally Posted by Judy

Proof you are not a Trump Supporter and never were.

Has Trumpism clouded your judgement so much that you lack the ability to distinguish a Trump supporter from a Trump cheerleader? Not being a cheerleader or part of the pep-squad doesn't necessarily mean you don't support the home team.

Trump had you pegged when he said he could shoot somebody and not lose support. Well, I on the other hand believe in accountability for ones actions.

All Trump Supporters are cheerleaders!! Some of us are just better at it than others. You're not a Trump Supporter and have never been one. If you voted for Trump, it's only because you wouldn't vote for Hillary. That is not a Trump Supporter, that is just someone who voted for Trump, a Trump "voter". Important on election day, but doesn't get you to election day. Trump Supporters get you to election day. That's the difference between a Trump Supporter and a Trump Voter.

Stay True, Stay Trump!!

Trump Train Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'!!!

GO TRUMP GO!!!

SAVE OUR NATION, VOTE REPUBLICAN IN 2018!!!!

Originally Posted by Judy

All Trump Supporters are cheerleaders!! Some of us are just better at it than others. You're not a Trump Supporter and have never been one. If you voted for Trump, it's only because you wouldn't vote for Hillary. That is not a Trump Supporter, that is just someone who voted for Trump, a Trump "voter". Important on election day, but doesn't get you to election day. Trump Supporters get you to election day. That's the difference between a Trump Supporter and a Trump Voter.

For many of us our support for our country far out weighs our support for Trump who is doing nothing to prevent the invasion of the country he is President of.

For some supporting Trump even while he is allowing the invaders to take over this country is more important.