“It is useless to attempt to reason a man out of a thing he was never reasoned into.”
“It is useless to attempt to reason a man out of a thing he was never reasoned into.”
"One of the things we are discussing is
drugs pouring into this country and how to stop it," President Donald
Trump said in a press conference on Saturday, going on to reference both the
illegal drug trade and opioids. "I think we will make a big dent in the
drug problem," he added, though didn't offer any specifics. [POLITICO Pulse, January 8, 2018]
 |
| WHITE HOUSE |
 |
| CYBERSECURITY |
 |
| READ |
ETHANOL, GRAINS PRODUCERS WANT BRAZIL
PUNISHED: U.S. ethanol and grains producers are urging
the U.S. Trade Representative to suspend Brazil's tariff benefits under the
Generalized System of Preferences, which grants tariff relief on imports from
developing countries, because of complaints that the South American country has
put in place a restrictive quota on ethanol imports. "Brazil's decision to
engage in protectionist trade measures as a result of a short-term and
market-oriented deficit against the largest agriculturally related product
imported from the U.S. is not in keeping with the spirit of the GSP
program," the Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy and the U.S.
Grains Council wrote in a letter to
Lighthizer on Thursday. [POLITICO's Morning Energy, November 10, 2017]
It's quite likely Trump will use 301 authority — in January, we're told — to put tariffs on Chinese
consumer electronics as retaliation against the country's widespread theft of
American companies' intellectual property. Though Cohn and Mnuchin don't like
tariffs, they're comparatively comfortable with targeted actions against truly
bad actors, as in this case.
What you need to know:
- In January, Trump will
need to decide whether or not to temporarily protect American
manufacturers from competition with imported solar panels and washing
machines.
- In the near future, Trump will
decide whether or not to announce that global production of aluminum and
steel presents a national security threat to the U.S., and then slap
massive tariffs on those two industries.
- Wall Street and Congressional free traders are most concerned
about potential steel and aluminum actions.
- Trump has not made firm decisions on any of this.
- In fact, he held a recent meeting with top officials in the
Situation Room, and the debate was hot.
- Staff Secretary Rob Porter has been convening a trade meeting every
Tuesday in the Roosevelt Room, attended by Cohn,
Mnuchin, National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, Commerce Secretary
Wilbur Ross, hardline trade adviser Peter Navarro and top trade negotiator
Bob Lighthizer. I'm told that at last Tuesday's meeting, there was still a
"robust discussion" with "sharply diverging points of
view."
- Porter — typically a neutral arbiter — has argued for targeted
actions rather than broad, blunt tariffs. Defense
Secretary Jim Mattis is also an important voice; the Pentagon doesn't
agree with Trump that global excess steel capacity is a national security
threat.
- Secretary of State Rex Tillerson shares Mattis' view that broad tariffs that hit allies who haven't engaged in
unfair practices is bad policy that would unnecessarily harm
relationships.
Bottom line: As
we've repeatedly written — but can't stress enough — Trump believes this stuff
to his core. Perhaps the only policy position he has consistently held for more
than 30 years is that foreign countries are taking advantage of America, and
that America needs to fight back. At the start of his presidency, he told
President Xi that he would be gentler on trade if Xi took a harder line on
North Korea's nuclear program. But in the months since, Trump has concluded
that China won't play its part. So he's ready to begin the second year of his
presidency with a big trade bang. [Axios Sneak
Peek, December 31, 2017]
WHITE HOUSE TRADE CRACKDOWN COMING DOWN THE PIKE: President
Donald Trump and top administration officials are preparing to unleash an
aggressive trade crackdown in the coming weeks… . The moves are expected to
include new tariffs aimed at countering China's and other economic competitors'
unfair trade practices. Trump is scheduled to begin finalizing decisions as
soon as this week on trade actions involving imports of steel and solar panels
as well as on China's intellectual property practices. [POLITICO's Morning Trade, January 8, 2018]
 |
| FROM THE PORCH |
 |
| ENVIRONMENT |
Researchers at The Nature Conservancy
make one thing urgently clear: what we do this decade—right now—will mean the difference
between either preserving the wonder of nature or the continued disappearance
of species, catastrophic climate change, and further depletion of the sacred
natural places we hold dear. Accomplishments:
·
Working with local partners, The Nature Conservancy helped
protect more than 13 million acres of Wyoming’s Thunder Basin. This land
contains some of the most intact prairie in the American West and will preserve
critical habitat for iconic species like the Greater sage grouse.
·
To help combat unsustainable fishing in our oceans, we developed
a GPS tracking system to monitor vital Pacific tuna fisheries. Using tools that
analyze and identify the faces of individual tuna on fishing vessels, we make
it easier for regulators to enforce sustainable fishing policies.
·
Using best available conservation science, we’re working with
local Indian leaders in the states of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra to
minimize the impact of renewable energy projects. This conservation planning
helps to protect habitat for critically endangered tigers.
Sincerely,
Dave Strauss
Director of Membership
The Nature Conservancy
 |
| CANDIDATES |
NOTE: The news sources here vary. Not all sources have the same credibility, but in an effort to share some different perspectives, they are included here. This compendium itself cannot claim to be unbiased. Please take into consideration where these different perspectives originate in assessing their value. Thank you
NOTE: I have no official connection to any organization from which information is shared.. Occasionally, I post informational material and/or an opportunity to donate or join as a "community service" announcement. These again are shared for their varying perspectives.
Any books listed are random or topic-related to something else in the post. Think of these as a "library bookshelf" to browse. They are shared for informational or entertainment value only, not as being recommended
Comments
Post a Comment