back to article Yuge U-turn: Prez Trump walks back on Huawei ban... at least the tech sector seems to think so

President Donald Trump said he plans to revoke the ban, or, er, grant some licences to American companies supplying components and services to Chinese telecoms giant Huawei. Speaking after meeting the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, Trump said: "American companies that make product, that's very complex by the way, highly …

  1. jason 7

    I guess...

    ..enough money was slipped into his offshore account or a good deal was set on a new Trump Hotel or golf-course in China?

    The Art of The Deal. Just waft enough cash (China has plenty) and he folds...

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: The Art of The Deal. Just waft enough cash

      My impression that the deals made seem to follow a similar pattern: (1) throw around a lot of bluster, hot air, and insults to make the situation worse; (2) set up a meeting against this background of (possibly new and unnecessary) antagonism; then (3) if the browbeating and bluster hasn't worked, do some sort of ordinary deal, but use the constructed air of "mutual hostility" to suggest that it was in fact an amazing deal, considering the circumstances, and that the result proves yet-again that he is a brilliant deal-maker.

      Of course, I'm probably entirely wrong. After all, what would I know? :-)

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: The Art of The Deal. Just waft enough cash

        Exactly the kind of conduct that even the real operators in the NYC real estate market loathed to do business with him for. A self-absorbed idiot with a wad of cash, facilitated in part by Americans' worship of wealth (or the appearance of wealth -- Trump specializes in that).

        1. jason 7

          Re: The Art of The Deal. Just waft enough cash

          Well a wad of debt maybe that makes the banks have to go along with you because you made yourself out to be such a 'super businessman'.

          No bank wanted to look stupid by taking a huge hit calling in his debts. That or having the regulators look too closely afterwards.

      2. JohnFen

        Re: The Art of The Deal. Just waft enough cash

        My observation is similar, although I put it a little differently. Trump doesn't engage in negotiations. He engages in extortion. First, he breaks something big and causes a great deal of damage. Then he offers to stop breaking things and (maybe) fix some -- but not all -- of the damage, but only if his victim gives him everything he wants.

        Ignoring the ethics (which are hugely abhorrent), this behavior can work in certain corners of the business wold like New York commercial real estate, but it doesn't work so well in most other realms, where people see the reality that the only way to deal with an extortionist is to fight him tooth and nail.

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: The Art of The Deal. Just waft enough cash

          "Nice phone company you got here - oh, sorry, my government's clumsy, he seems to have broken it. For just one billion dollars a week we can guarantee that your phone company won't get broken, unless we need more cash."

          Where's Spiny Norman when you need him?

      3. Mark 85

        Re: The Art of The Deal. Just waft enough cash

        Spot on. He's following his book to the letter. Funny thing is, other world leaders read it and are applying the same BS when they deal with him.

        1. Franco

          Re: The Art of The Deal. Just waft enough cash

          That's ironic, given that by all accounts (other than his own) he had almost no part in actually writing the book. He of course disputes that.

          I just watched Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and had a good laugh at Jared's attempts to broker a deal in the Middle East as well.

      4. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: The Art of The Deal. Just waft enough cash

        Did anyone else read this in the voice of Serge from Beverly Hills cop?

      5. John Jennings

        Re: The Art of The Deal. Just waft enough cash

        That is the "art of the deal", according to Trumps doctrine?

        Problem with it is that it wears thin after a couple of tries....

        N Korea - was begging to have a deal

        China - US was begging for a deal

        Europe (with its Nato contributions) - US wanted a deal - got that

        Russia - still in play - but election interfering is really weak as a arguing point for trade deals.

        Didnt work in Syria

        Likely wont work in Iran - still in play.

        I wonder if there is one for the Climate change thingy?

        1. ds6 Silver badge

          Re: The Art of The Deal. Just waft enough cash

          Latest news: Trump makes a deal with the weather so it will stop being awful.

    2. veti Silver badge

      Re: I guess...

      With the trade war going badly, Trump needed to pull out some sort of "progress" this week. So we got the announcement that "talks with China were on track".

      Now obviously, the Chinese could call that statement out quite convincingly. So he needed to get them to play along, and to that end he's tossed them this bone.

  2. Flocke Kroes Silver badge

    If Rubio really wants to ban Huawei

    He will need to offer more than Xi Jinping. Last time the bribe was $500B.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: If Rubio really wants to ban Huawei

      $500M not $B surely.

      1. Flocke Kroes Silver badge

        Re: If Rubio really wants to ban Huawei

        Oops. At least I did not type long scale billions.

  3. Kaltern

    Trump Teeters Trying To Topple Tech Trade, Turnabout Topples Trust, That's Tenously Transparent...

    1. KittenHuffer Silver badge

      That's Terrific!

    2. MiguelC Silver badge

      Top Tweeter Trump Teeters...

      Some form of tweet inclusion is to be expected whenever that twat's Trump's statements are mentioned

      1. Kaltern

        Money

        Can't believe I forgot to include Tweet as a word....

        1. Doctor Syntax Silver badge

          Re: Money

          Surely Terribly Transparent?

          1. Kaltern

            Re: Money

            ...can't argue there either... It IS Monday. I'll do better next time :D

        2. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: Money

          ...and Twat

  4. big_D Silver badge

    Credibility

    Republican Rubio said the U-turn was a catastrophic mistake, adding: "It will destroy the credibility of [Trump's] administration's warnings about the threat posed by the company, no one will ever again take them seriously."

    That boat has long sailed. Credibility in this matter? None. Credibility generally? Almost nill.

    1. }{amis}{
      Go

      Re: Credibility

      Almost nill

      You are giving the orange idiot far to much credit if you as me.

    2. John Brown (no body) Silver badge

      Re: Credibility

      "That boat has long sailed. Credibility in this matter? None. Credibility generally? Almost nill."

      Except for his core supporters. They still believe everything he tweets. Even when it contradicts the tweets from the day before.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Credibility

        "Except for his core supporters. They still believe everything he tweets. Even when it contradicts the tweets from the day before."

        your being generous, he can contradict himself in the same fucking sentence and they still don't belleive he's a lying peice of shit

      2. el kabong

        Trump core supporters don't believe a word trump tweets, they know full well it's all lies

        They know it's all lies and they support those lies, fully. Trump is lying their lies and he has their full approval doing so.

    3. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Credibility

      Also, credibility? Rubio?

      If it wasn't for the money swashing around the US, these people would struggle to make it as Third World politicians.

    4. jmch Silver badge

      Re: Credibility

      "It will destroy the credibility of [Trump's] administration's warnings about the threat posed by the company, "

      Security was always a fig leaf. This was always about trade i.e. money. Not surprising, everything with Trump boils down to that

  5. Alister

    So, suddenly all the rabid comments about Huawei being a clear and present danger to Americuhs security, are all fake news now?

    1. Doctor Syntax Silver badge

      I think he just doesn't recognise them.

    2. Prst. V.Jeltz Silver badge

      clear and present danger to Americuhs security

      well , I thought the main problem with Trumps little tantrum and tech ban was that people couldnt use the tech Huwai creates , which must be a major problem in Telecomms . you'd have to use cisco!

      That dosent appear to have changed.

      Chip makers are now allowed to help China make the spyhardware - why is that a problem before or after today if you are not using the end result?

      1. EnviableOne

        Re: clear and present danger to Americuhs security

        except cisco have no offering in the wirelss access market and they are far from a key player

        Key participants in the marketplace include Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.(U.S.); Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Shenzhen, Guangdong); Ericsson (Sweden); Samsung (Japan); and ZTE Corporation (China).

        and the bit of Nokia that didnt get sold to MS has since Trump's intervention overtaken ZTE but market share wise its still tiny

        1. ds6 Silver badge

          Re: clear and present danger to Americuhs security

          ...Dead post-buyout Nokia overtook ZTE??

          I didn't know they were in that bad of shape.

  6. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Security my ass, it's all about trade posturing.

    1. codejunky Silver badge

      @AC

      I do wonder how history will remember Trump. Economically he is doing pretty good for the US but internationally he seems to be working long games. His meeting with Kim on the Korea border being an interesting example, he may actually make some form of progress with the N.Koreans. He keeps kicking off trade wars but I do wonder if it will disolve into good trade agreements.

      People might see him as an idiot now but this guy did manage to take on both the democrats and republicans and get elected president. I wouldnt be shocked if the trade wars were to cause a problem he could suddenly solve if the economy back home took another hit.

      1. Dan 55 Silver badge

        Re: @AC

        White House press secretary jostles with North Korean security – video

        Long games? I don't think the current administration have the remotest idea what they're getting into with North Korea, especially Trump who seems to believe one of NK's regular announcements about nuclear disarmament whatever it is actually means something.

      2. Balding Greybeard

        Re: @AC

        My wife started her IT career in the steel industry doing SAS analytics to eventually running a bar mill, working with vendors and large customers.

        She got to see the rough-and-tumble construction industry. She shares that in construction and large-scale commercial real estate, that that’s how things are done; high-stakes bluster, big gambles, pushing contractors and customers to the edge and eventually getting a project completed.

        While Trump is embarrassing in the civil world, if you understand where he came from, you can get a glimpse into how he operates, and how he has been successful.

        Not condoning his boorish behavior, but if anyone watched his television show, heard about bragging about fingers up a lady’s private stuff, they knew what they were getting.

        When history is written at the end of his presidency, I’ll hold my nose, but believe that he will have accomplished a lot in international trade.

      3. Doctor Syntax Silver badge

        Re: @AC

        "internationally he seems to be working long games"

        Internationally I expect the Chinese to be working the long games. I'm sure they've already decided that they want to be in a position where they can't be vulnerable to export technology bans again. They'll accept the breathing space this has given them but will emerge not only as self-sufficient but also as a more complete competitor to the US.

        1. codejunky Silver badge

          Re: @AC

          @Doctor Syntax

          China are pretty interesting to watch. They seem to be going through a learning curve which is knocking them about a bit but they are persevering so far. They tried to abuse their monopoly over rare earths and took a big hit. They have taken a socialist, backward, peasant economy and are embracing capitalism and globalism taking them from dying in a field to designing technology used around the world. They are making a huge gamble by creating their own world bank and using it to boost east/west relations and to expand routes into Africa.

          Of course they still have difficulty letting go of some of their past problems but I am hopeful for them.

          1. NATTtrash

            Re: @AC

            The fun part will start when China starts playing the markets so the US has to start paying back all that money the US still owes it. What was it? A couple of trillion? I mean, if we talking slow developing strategies, go and talk to people who lived through Vietnam and experienced quiet, slow, but resilient Asian strategies first hand. But then again, some never were interested in other cultures any way...

            Would of course not be wise if China did so, because China would cut off (one of) their own life lines. But think about all the posturing and boasting. Some might have less "great, absolutely fantastic" results to claim. Then again, this rather awkward image issue would probably be put away with "the guy before me caused all of this because he did a very bad job", and "Remember, if the other guys would be in power, it would have been bad. Much, much badder"... Ugh...

          2. Doctor Syntax Silver badge

            Re: @AC

            "They seem to be going through a learning curve which is knocking them about a bit but they are persevering so far. "

            It's like Japan a few decades on.

            "They're just making cheap copies of all the stuff we make."

            ...

            "Oh, they're ahead of us."

            The US, of course, doesn't like to admit it but it was also their getting on for a century or so before Japan.

      4. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: @AC

        Get below the surface and start crunching the real numbers and you'll find that Trump's been good at best for a tiny group. The real economy and most people continue to struggle as they have for almost three decades. Even most of those at the top worry about his unpredictability.

      5. John Brown (no body) Silver badge

        Re: @AC

        "Economically he is doing pretty good for the US"

        I was looking at some graphs on the Beeb news site the other day. It had pretty graphs showing all the usual metrics for the health of a countries economy and pretty much all of the metrics have carried on steadily in the direction they were moving since Obamas time in office. Which is interesting considering his aim was to destroy everything Obama did. What it looks like at a cursory glance, is that Trump has done nothing but maintain the rises and falls, despite his posturing etc. There's no sudden drops in unemployment or rises in wages that were not already happening. It's almost as if either he's a lot less effective than he portrays, or others, behind the scenes, are keeping things on track in spite of him.

        1. FrogsAndChips Silver badge
          Black Helicopters

          Re: @AC

          others, behind the scenes, are keeping things on track in spite of him

          Ssssh, we're not supposed to talk about the Second Foundation!

      6. jason 7

        Re: @AC

        "Economically he is doing pretty good for the US"

        Well if you look closer he is doing pretty well for the 1% and no one else. Pretty much the same as Clinton/Bush and Obama before him. The 99% are on a loser still as they have been since 2008.

        Remember the economy isn't there to benefit the 99%.

        You have to look at the bigger picture, not just what the propaganda machine pushes.

      7. Charlie Clark Silver badge

        Re: @AC

        Economically he is doing pretty good for the US

        You really need to close both your eyes and put your hands over them to come to that conclusion. The deficit is ballooning and that's in a time of nearly full employment. As the world's largest economy with the world's reserve currency the US is able to exercise a great deal of influence on world trade. And it is currently doing this by undermining the multilateral rules-based approach. This is leading other countries to work on arrangements that not only don't include the US, but cannot be directly undermined by the US. Oh, and we're learning how belligerence pays off. Well, for Kim Youg Eun and Mohammad Bin Salman that certainly seems to be the case.

        PS. Get your handlers to give you a new spell checker. Or more frog pills.

        1. codejunky Silver badge

          Re: @AC

          @Charlie Clark

          "You really need to close both your eyes and put your hands over them to come to that conclusion"

          While this is a low blow you are a defender of the EU. A place that is still struggling with recovery from the last recession.

          "The deficit is ballooning and that's in a time of nearly full employment"

          Some would argue that it is at full employment and actually a little beyond that. The deficit ballooning should please leftists of the belief in public spending but the offset of that is monetary policy (the FED) reacting to it. Thats why Trump complains they are cooling the economy while he tries to heat it up (its what they are there for).

          "And it is currently doing this by undermining the multilateral rules-based approach"

          That is why I differentiated between his economic and trade policy but I might not have been clear enough, I think his domestic policy has been pretty good for the US but will see what happens for his foreign policies.

          "Oh, and we're learning how belligerence pays off"

          Amazingly this is the thing that might be working for him. As we agree its not doing any favours so far for trade, but in world relations he seems to be making more progress with long standing problems such as N.Korea and Iran. And he could be using the trade wars as easy wins when he 'resolves' them at opportune moments. I am interested to see.

          "PS. Get your handlers to give you a new spell checker. Or more frog pills."

          And comments like this are why I dont feel bad starting my response with a low blow. Go join the tinfoil hat brigade.

          1. JohnFen

            Re: @AC

            "he seems to be making more progress with long standing problems such as N.Korea and Iran."

            I disagree. At best, he hasn't really affected the North Korea issue at all, and he is definitely making the Iran problem far worse than it was.

          2. Richard Plinston

            Re: @AC

            > The deficit ballooning should please leftists of the belief in public spending

            But the deficit is _not_ the result of public spending, that has been reduced. It is the result of giving money to the very rich (so that they will give some of this to Trump or his campaign).

            1. Charlie Clark Silver badge

              Re: @AC

              Not all public spending has been cut: military spending has been increased. More, I believe, than even the military asked for.

          3. Down not across

            Re: @AC

            While this is a low blow you are a defender of the EU. A place that is still struggling with recovery from the last recession.

            How is his view on EU relevant to his view on Trump?

            1. NATTtrash

              Re: @AC

              Humour him. I mean he is just following the policy of the Great Leader(s): "Only praise yourself, and if you fuck up, blame the others (before you)"

            2. codejunky Silver badge

              Re: @AC

              @Down not across

              "How is his view on EU relevant to his view on Trump?"

              He was effectively saying you need to be ignorant to think Trump is economically doing well for the US. He is a staunch defender of the EU which economically is shockingly bad.

          4. Tomato Krill

            Re: @AC

            This would be the Iran now enriching Uranium again having stopped under the previous administration?

          5. ds6 Silver badge
            Mushroom

            Re: @AC

            We could actually be going to war with Iran very, very soon. Trump almost bombed 3 different sites in response to zero loss of human life by the hands of Iran. We have been spiking their economy with sanctions and diplomatic talks have gone nowhere to backwards ever since Trump started dealing with it (though they weren't good to begin with). I don't see how any of this could be considered "progress"

            1. codejunky Silver badge

              Re: @AC

              @ds6

              "We have been spiking their economy with sanctions and diplomatic talks have gone nowhere to backwards ever since Trump started dealing with it (though they weren't good to begin with). I don't see how any of this could be considered "progress""

              Obama was happy to bomb countries outside the warzone with drone strikes. Trump is dealing with a nuclear threat and Obama was striking civilian gatherings. Yes Trump is applying sanctions and upping the pressure. Obama's approach was to pretend everything was ok. The reason action looks extreme is because it contrasts with Obama drawing red lines, then stepping back to draw another.

              Lets look at this another way. Iran is not a solid country with actual effective leadership. They have influential and sizeable factions who want to wipe Israel off the map and thats the start. Do we want them to have nukes? If not should we try to do something about it?

              1. ds6 Silver badge
                Big Brother

                Re: @AC

                Why does everyone immediately quantify the effectiveness of a president by comparing them to other presidents? I don't care if Obama's shitshow was better or worse than Trump's, I just want better results in general. My two cents is that the US should never have been in the middle east, and since it has to be for some reason, let's not publicize and sensationalize the fact that something was almost bombed through a tweet.

                And, no, an increase of tensions and violence I would still not call progress. Not that a peaceful resolution could have ever been met with Iran on a permanent basis.

                But this is neither here nor there. I was only commenting on "his domestic policy" being to post on Twitter about deciding to bomb someone or not. That is most certainly not how you increase relations with a country.

                But hey, I'm not a president.

                1. codejunky Silver badge

                  Re: @AC

                  @ds6

                  "Why does everyone immediately quantify the effectiveness of a president by comparing them to other presidents? I don't care if Obama's shitshow was better or worse than Trump's, I just want better results in general."

                  How do you judge better in general without comparing previous presidents? Under Obama the US was weaker and thats after Bush! Under Trump it would seem to be stronger even if he is disliked (and there are good reasons to dislike him). He is unwinding damage inflicted by the previous president, so thats an improvement. The economy is in a better state even with some of his damaging ideas such as trade war.

                  "And, no, an increase of tensions and violence I would still not call progress."

                  Such as the arab spring? Increased tensions with Russia? N.Korea developing nukes? All before Trump and he would agree with you over not going to the middle east as was done. He is actually engaging with Russia (the one that told the US to get out of the way while it fired its missiles into Syria). He is engaging with N.Korea which may actually bring progress, something not yet achieved with the Utopia country. An ineffective agreement with Iran to stop trying to make nukes in such an unstable country was ditched for actual action, actual threat not some 'red line' to be redrawn.

                  "But this is neither here nor there. I was only commenting on "his domestic policy" being to post on Twitter about deciding to bomb someone or not. That is most certainly not how you increase relations with a country."

                  Did he nearly bomb them? He is quick to twitter and everyone soaks it up especially his opponents. Is he crazy enough to do it? Yes or no he has convinced plenty people that he would. Compare that to Obama who would retreat with red lines, does the US look more or less likely to act now?

                  As I have said there are many reasons not to like Trump but he certainly seems a step up from his predecessor who was worse than his predecessor.

        2. Nifty Silver badge

          Re: @AC

          "undermining the multilateral rules-based approach"

          Which China has been running rings around for decades...

          Maybe there's method to the madness.

      8. Robert 22

        Re: @AC

        "he may actually make some form of progress with the N.Koreans"

        The lesson would seem to be that, to get respect, it helps to be a despotic dictator with nuclear weapons.

      9. JohnFen

        Re: @AC

        "he seems to be working long games"

        You're giving his administration far, far too much credit.

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: @AC

          Whenever Trump says something unforgivably stupid, his apologists claim he was "joking". Whenever he does something unforgivably stupid, they claim he's playing the "long game". Anyone who believes Trump is actually smart is either blinded by party or even more stupid than he is.

          He lacks all intellectual curiosity, he's immune to facts that differ from what he believes even when he's proven wrong, and he has one and only one strategy for what he calls "negotiation". Threats, bluster, and knocking down everyone's sand castle including his own then saying "let's all build our sand castles almost identical to what we had before, and I'll take credit for everything"

          Apparently the game will be so "long" that after he leaves office and the plans he was supposedly working on via bluster and threats like getting North Korea to denuclearize and getting Iran to permanently give up their nuclear plans instead of for 15 years ultimately fail, he'll blame whoever succeeds him. Whether democrat or republican. And some idiots will probably be dumb enough to believe him, and say "if it wasn't for president X, Trump's plans would have worked and North Korea would have a Trump Tower ...er I mean would have no nuclear weapons".

      10. the Jim bloke
        Big Brother

        Re: @AC

        Trump is working with Kim Jong Un, hoping to get rid of the technology transfer restrictions.

        North Korea have released some details such as how to ruin their own economy, and how the more poverty you have around you - the richer you yourself appear, but are holding back on the key technologies on establishing a despotic dynasty.

      11. veti Silver badge

        Re: @AC

        I don't see him as an idiot. I think he's a very clever and very nasty man.

        Economically he's doing disastrously for the US. Sure, the economy is booming - that's what happens if you pump in trillions of dollars of newly printed money at the height of what was already an economic boom. There is a special place in hell for the congresscritters who blustered and protested about the deficit during the Obama years, but are happy to stoke it up now that an (R) is in the White House.

        (Mind you, this is exactly the same as they did under both Bushes, and Reagan. It's why Clinton balanced the budget - it wasn't any particularly great management on his part, it was the Republican congress trying to crash the economy.)

        The trade wars were completely unnecessary, and kicked off to make Trump look tough, while leaving open the option for him to declare victory whenever he wants. Take China, for instance - he's never spelled out what it is he wants the Chinese to do, so anytime he feels he wants a victory, he can simply announce that they've given in and the war is won. Of course, that's given China some leverage over the US that it didn't previously have - it can demand concessions from Trump to back up his bullshit - but that's fine - Trump can profit from that too (as in the present story, for instance - he's just created a whole new channel for himself and his henchmen to receive kickbacks, that's what "licenses" mean - as Republicans would be lightning-quick to point out, if it was the other side doing it).

        Don't get me wrong, I think Obama and Clinton were both pretty poor presidents. But at least they had some respect for the ideas of law and democracy and republican government. Trump is a whole new level of two-bit, four-flushing, slimy, cheating turd, but he's pulled off the remarkable confidence trick of convincing over 40% of US voters that he's in some way "on their side". Anyone who thinks, at this point, that he's stupid just isn't paying attention.

        1. codejunky Silver badge

          Re: @AC

          @veti

          "Sure, the economy is booming - that's what happens if you pump in trillions of dollars of newly printed money at the height of what was already an economic boom"

          Not a defence in the slightest but thats what the dems wanted to do too. A prime difference was the dems wanting to fund projects directly while Trump gave tax breaks for private entities to take the risk and build. Obamacare was a project proven to be over expensive and ballooning in cost while under providing. The ever ongoing wars cost money. This isnt a defence of Trump but to say he might be costing less than the alternative. And if Bernie would have got in the US would be much worse off (deficit wise).

          "The trade wars were completely unnecessary, and kicked off to make Trump look tough, while leaving open the option for him to declare victory whenever he wants."

          Thats what I expect he is doing. Easy wins he can produce if he needs a distraction.

          "Don't get me wrong, I think Obama and Clinton were both pretty poor presidents. But at least they had some respect for the ideas of law and democracy and republican government"

          Talking of Obama, Clinton (and Bush I would add) the idea of respecting law and democracy was a joke. People got sick of the usual slime doing the usual actions which was in self interest. I wonder if they voted Trump so they could have some of the same motives but more open about it.

          "remarkable confidence trick of convincing over 40% of US voters that he's in some way "on their side". Anyone who thinks, at this point, that he's stupid just isn't paying attention."

          This is what worries me. Reading some of the comments here there are people who still think he is an idiot. This is a guy who beat the Republicans and Democrats to become president. Any capable opposition must be smarter than the last run against him. Looking at the Warren, OC, bernie options I am not convinced there is much of a challenge.

          1. ds6 Silver badge

            Re: @AC

            Consider for a moment that Trump had a party of people whose sole purpose was to get him elected. The level of intelligence of one is lesser to the strategies, action, and reaction of the platform as a whole.

            I am not commenting on Trump's intelligence, only positing the idea that you should not continue to give the figurehead all the credit. The government is bigger than one man, especially when there are hundreds of mouths whispering in his ears.

        2. JohnFen

          Re: @AC

          "But at least they had some respect for the ideas of law and democracy and republican government."

          When I think back on all the Presidents that have been in office in my lifetime, there's one thing I can say about them all regardless of whether (or how much) I agreed or disagreed with their positions on various things: I really think that they all prioritized what they thought was in the best interest of the US. Except Trump. I really think that the only thing he prioritizes is himself.

          In that sense, Trump is truly exceptional.

      12. NATTtrash

        Re: @AC

        Sorry to disagree mate. You really think this "brilliant short term flight diversion to have a cuppa with another great guy" was done to solve the tensions with North Korea? Could it perhaps have something to do with US elections, and beaming a picture home showing how a great statesman is reaching absolutely fantastic results in the area of world politics? And yes, Kim did welcome him coming by. Well, looking at how many cameras were around the gentlemen, I think that the other great guy probably could also use the footage for his own purposes...

      13. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: @AC

        > Economically he is doing pretty good for the US

        Too much Faux News and Breitbart.

        Rather auspiciously last night on NPR, Marketplace reported that a recent Fed (as in Federal Reserve) report said the Trump economy is mainly helping the 1%.

        "Now, according to the Federal Reserve, more than a third of the economic gains are going to the richest 1%."[1]

        Quelle surprise, when last year's tax cut was entirely for the benefit of the 1%. I know I didn't see a cut in my tax bill this past April. I paid quite a bit more than I did last year. How about you?

        I trust the Fed a hell of a lot more than I trust Faux and Friends or Breitbart.

        [1] https://www.marketplace.org/2019/07/01/whats-changed-since-last-record-setting-economic-expansion/

      14. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: @AC

        Is he "doing good"? As a Samaritan?

        And, no, he isn't doing well either.

  7. adam payne

    Speaking after meeting the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, Trump said: "American companies that make product, that's very complex by the way, highly scientific... I've agreed to allow them to continue to sell that product."

    So did he finally figure that an outright ban would hit the US economy as well or did they just bribe him?

    1. phuzz Silver badge
      Holmes

      Never forget Hanlon's razor:

      "Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."

      Although I guess greed is a close runner-up to stupidity in this case.

      1. mics39

        Ha! That’s way overthinking. The twat tweeter is malicious, stupid and greedy.

        1. ds6 Silver badge

          Hanlon's Double Razor?

          Cuts twice as deep or your money back!

    2. Doctor Syntax Silver badge

      He's running for re-election. No doubt a few tech lobbyists murmured the words "campaign contributions" within earshot.

    3. big_D Silver badge

      Not sure, but coherence is not his strong suit, is it? 8-O What was that for a jumble of words?

    4. PhilipN Silver badge

      Finally some sense

      among the usual balls. Thank you AP.

      So many industries are so tightly integrated that they qualify as global not national. IT is a prime example.

      Similarly (with apologies for even mentioning the topic) there is no “UK car industry”. It is a continental industry with massive volumes of parts and bits flowing across many borders in all directions. Are you listening, Brexiteers?

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Finally some sense

        The answer to your question, of course, is No. It's globalisation that they hate. They want to live in the 1950s they see on the TV - but like the people who watch pseudo-history dramas they imagine themselves as being part of the upper classes, when in fact they will be the oppressed poor.

        1. JohnFen

          Re: Finally some sense

          "They want to live in the 1950s they see on the TV"

          Which was also a fantasy world that never actually existed.

    5. Charlie Clark Silver badge

      Break something then try and claim credit for fixing it. Big Man!

      That, and the fact, that US companies like Intel work working on workarounds.

  8. sabroni Silver badge

    You see that trade crisis (that I created but don't mention that)

    I just fixed it by doing a super clever deal that you have to a stable genius to understand!

  9. Prst. V.Jeltz Silver badge

    Why is/was it a problem to supply Huwai if you cant use the stuff they make?

  10. alain williams Silver badge

    But the long term damage is done ...

    Chinese companies are going to avoid being potentially put into the place where Huawei was for several weeks. They are going to seek components from places where the USA could not capriciously shut the door; that could either be home made or elsewhere.

    For the rest of us this could be good: a second source for components that compete with what the USA sells. Should bring the price down as well as increasing economic security.

    Also good for places on USA sanctions lists, eg: Iran.

    1. Mike Brown

      Re: But the long term damage is done ...

      Totally. Not just parts. Huawei has stepped up development of its Android replacement. Im sure all Chinese companies will be doing similar.

      This looks like a victory for Trump now, but give it 5 years, and you will be able to trace Chinese supremacy to this silly "trade war".

  11. kain preacher

    So who wants to be the first to book a room at the new China Trump hotel?

    1. Ken Moorhouse Silver badge

      Re: So who wants to be the first to book a room at the new China Trump hotel?

      "he breaks something big and causes a great deal of damage" [JohnFen]

      Make sure you get an independent inventory checklist before you do.

  12. Big_Boomer Silver badge

    << Republican Rubio said the U-turn was a catastrophic mistake, adding: "It will destroy the credibility of [Trump's] administration's warnings about the threat posed by the company, no one will ever again take them seriously." >>

    Somebody took Trump seriously? <rotflol> <rotflmao> <ROTFPMS> (please stop,..... it hurts)

  13. IGotOut Silver badge

    and we look forward to getting more detail on the president's remarks on Huawei.

    "And we look forward to someone to translating the gibberings of a mad man"

    Tftfy

  14. G2

    Huawei import ban is still in force.

    It's not an u-turn. The key phrase in Trump's statement is "to sell"

    So, US Companies are allowed to export and sell things to Huawei but BUYING FROM and IMPORTING Huawei products is still banned. They just want Huawei's cash, not their products.

    Trump said exactly that: "One of the things I will allow, however, is, a lot of people are surprised we send and we sell to Huawei a tremendous amount of product that goes into the various things that they make. And I said that that’s okay, that we will keep selling that product. These are American companies… that make product and that’s very complex, by the way, and highly scientific. And in some cases we’re the ones that do it, we’re the only ones that do it. What we’ve done in Silicon Valley is incredible, actually and nobody has been able to compete with it, and I’ve agreed and pretty easily, I’ve agreed to allow them to continue to sell that product. So American companies will continue and they were having a problem, the companies were not exactly happy that they couldn’t sell because they had nothing to do with whatever it was potentially happening with respect to Huawei, so I did do that."

    https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-press-conference-osaka-japan/

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