The central point seems to be his declarations to steadfastness and flexibility at the same time invite disbelief: if the intent is to negotiate then the "not one inch" posture is unhelpful and if the intent is to push the Mar a Lago accord model, negotiating won't help because it undermines the financial consequences driving it.<p>Domestic investor sentiment isn't really the point, nor the effect on people's retirement income. It would not think empathy is really driving this WH.
Let's go back to basics --- show me the evidence that a large scale trade war is "winnable".<p>It's the economic version of the "nuclear option". There are no "winners" --- everyone loses. And those who will lose the most are largely Trump voters.<p>WalMart shoppers, prepare to be gouged.<p>This is absolutely unprecedented. No country in history has ever intentionally engaged in economic self harm to this extreme.<p>Over $10 trillion wiped from equity markets in 4 months. The same companies that are supposed to "Make America Great Again" have just been handicapped --- in more ways than one.<p>This is how you "Git er' done" with Larry the Cable Guy as leader of the global economy. It would be funny if it wasn't so serious.