The BBC's take on this trade deal with China.
A lot of noise about very little.

It has been hailed by the White House as a breakthrough in a war that President Trump triggered to protect American jobs and companies from what he viewed as unfair competition from China.

The weapon of choice: billions of dollars of tariffs, or extra charges, on imports. But that has hurt the very workers and businesses they were meant to protect, in both countries.

For all the fanfare - and the unusual appearance of a president at the signing of a bilateral trade deal - this is more armistice than victory - with only a small proportion of the tariffs being reversed and relatively minor concessions granted by both sides. Tariffs remain on around two-thirds of the goods Americans buy from China

Moreover, Washington's fundamental complaints about Chinese practices - from its approach to subsidising businesses to cybertheft - remain unresolved. With President Trump's ambition to rewrite the rules of global trade yet to be achieved, some fear he may turn his firepower on Europe next - just as the UK is looking to broker an advantageous post-Brexit relationship

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51114425

Well I guess Trump doesn't worry about human rights getting the deal with China.

Moonmin Why doesn't this surprise?

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Let's all kiss the butt of criminal China? :-D :-D :-D

Crims cuttin dealz with crimz n distrackin u wit da stimz slim.

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Capitalize on this good fortune, one word can bring you round ... changes.

NBC - Treasury's internal watchdog is probing the Trump administration's Opportunity Zone program

WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department's internal watchdog has opened an inquiry into the department's Opportunity Zone program after a request in October from three Democratic members of Congress, Acting Treasury Inspector General Richard Delmar said.
In late 2018, NBC News reported that Richard LeFrak, a friend of Trump's, and the family interests of Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, among others, could benefit from possible projects in designated opportunity zones. The New York Times published a similar report last year.

From the NYT,

Last year, The Times reported how money eligible for the tax break — supported by both Democrats and Republicans — was going to luxury projects in affluent neighborhoods, including deals that were underway long before the tax break took effect.

In October, The Times described how the financier Michael Milken stood to benefit from a move the Treasury Department made over the objections of some agency officials to permit a census tract in Nevada to qualify for the Opportunity Zone tax break. Mr. Milken is a longtime friend of Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s.

“Despite these warnings from staff, Secretary Mnuchin instructed Treasury officials to allow the otherwise ineligible tract to qualify for the incentive,” the lawmakers wrote in seeking the inquiry. “If the Treasury Department provided a stamp of approval as a political favor, it is not only unacceptable, but in complete violation of the congressional intent of the Opportunity Zones.”

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"Sour Grapes make a bitter Whine." <(0)>

+1

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...

Your universe seems to have suffered a time warp, that happened yesterday in this universe.

Today, in this universe, the House Managers have arrived and just read the Impeachment Articles.


House Managers arriving

Washington Examiner

Senate passes USMCA, giving Trump back-to-back trade wins
by Sean Higgins
| January 16, 2020 11:58 AM
The Senate passed President Trump's United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement on trade in a bipartisan vote of 89 to 10 Thursday, giving the president his second major trade win in as many days.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/economy/senate-passes-usmca-deal-giving-trump-back-to-back-trade-wins
Another nail in the coffin of Dim hopes for November.........

STILL not tired of WINNING!

@ Nick, How's that for a time warp?

[edit] Sorry I posted the wrong picture of the Impeachment Managers going to the Senate. I hope this corrects the egregious error.......

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"Sour Grapes make a bitter Whine." <(0)>

White House 'broke law' by withholding Ukraine aid, says watchdog

The White House broke the law by withholding aid to Ukraine that had been approved by the US Congress, a government watchdog has said.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) ruling is a potential blow to President Donald Trump as he faces an impeachment trial in the Senate.

He is accused of freezing aid to pressure Ukraine to investigate a political rival.

Ukraine has opened a probe on separate allegations linked to the impeachment.

Recommended reading.

Nick, methinks the fact that Trump once again broke the law does not matter to his base nor will it matter to the Senate in the impeachment trial.

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NBC - Treasury's internal watchdog is probing the Trump administration's Opportunity Zone program

WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department's internal watchdog has opened an inquiry into the department's Opportunity Zone program after a request in October from three Democratic members of Congress, Acting Treasury Inspector General Richard Delmar said.
In late 2018, NBC News reported that Richard LeFrak, a friend of Trump's, and the family interests of Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, among others, could benefit from possible projects in designated opportunity zones. The New York Times published a similar report last year.

From the NYT,

Last year, The Times reported how money eligible for the tax break — supported by both Democrats and Republicans — was going to luxury projects in affluent neighborhoods, including deals that were underway long before the tax break took effect.

In October, The Times described how the financier Michael Milken stood to benefit from a move the Treasury Department made over the objections of some agency officials to permit a census tract in Nevada to qualify for the Opportunity Zone tax break. Mr. Milken is a longtime friend of Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s.

“Despite these warnings from staff, Secretary Mnuchin instructed Treasury officials to allow the otherwise ineligible tract to qualify for the incentive,” the lawmakers wrote in seeking the inquiry. “If the Treasury Department provided a stamp of approval as a political favor, it is not only unacceptable, but in complete violation of the congressional intent of the Opportunity Zones.”

Swamp needs draining. Swamp mobsters ... errr, monsters ... don't want it drained. But, they put on a pretty face and convince some they're not mobsters ... errr, monsters.

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Capitalize on this good fortune, one word can bring you round ... changes.

White House 'broke law' by withholding Ukraine aid, says watchdog

The White House broke the law by withholding aid to Ukraine that had been approved by the US Congress, a government watchdog has said.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) ruling is a potential blow to President Donald Trump as he faces an impeachment trial in the Senate.

He is accused of freezing aid to pressure Ukraine to investigate a political rival.

Ukraine has opened a probe on separate allegations linked to the impeachment.

See above.
Hard to believe the mobsters ... errr, monsters ... pulled it off.

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Capitalize on this good fortune, one word can bring you round ... changes.

Nick, methinks the fact that Trump once again broke the law does not matter to his base nor will it matter to the Senate in the impeachment trial.

An examination of the base's off shore bank accounts is in order. Especially the ones in the Senate and RNC.

Let's all kiss the butt of criminal China Trump? :-D :-D :-D

There fixed it for you. Just make sure you don't fly to a country that tRump has a beef with, you might get shot down!

Yep but Moscow Mitch does not surprise.

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The FIX is in, jury is bought off.

So, this should be a report of the re-election campaign money Trumpy Bear is throwing to his cronies. But, it's not.

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Capitalize on this good fortune, one word can bring you round ... changes.

So, this should be a report of the re-election campaign money Trumpy Bear is throwing to his cronies. But, it's not.

And Moscow Mitch will make sure no one finds out about it.

So, this should be a report of the re-election campaign money Trumpy Bear is throwing to his cronies. But, it's not.

And Moscow Mitch will make sure no one finds out about it.

Mollified Mitch has difficulty shoveling and covering Trumpy Bear's excrement.

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Capitalize on this good fortune, one word can bring you round ... changes.