Trump was just served a rather humiliating defeat by China.

[spidermike007]

For a man who claims to be a great negotiator he seems to be failing miserable at this point, when it comes to negotiating the hundred or so deals that he falsely promised. 

 

This so-called deal with China is astonishingly short on details and we all know why that is. Apparently it amounts to allowing Chinese students to study in the US in exchange for China doling out a few rare earth minerals here and there. China always had the upper hand in this, as the US overreached and they desperately need these minerals. 

 

Let’s be honest—this isn’t a trade “deal,” it’s a tactical climbdown. The U.S. just ate a hefty serving of humble pie, and China served it cold.

 

Beijing has exposed a core vulnerability in American strategy: economic and industrial dependence. Rare earths aren’t just commodities—they’re the backbone of U.S. defence systems, AI, and semiconductors. China controls the global refining chain, and this “deal” simply buys time—it doesn’t change the leverage.

 

The implications for Taiwan are stark. Despite relying on TSMC chips to power its military edge, the U.S. is structurally handcuffed. You can’t credibly defend a democratic ally when your missiles, radars, and drones need components processed in the aggressor’s country. Trump’s rhetoric may be loud, but his actions will be limited—he won’t jeopardise Wall Street, the tech sector, or midterm optics to defend Taiwan.

 

On social media, Trump declared: “WE ARE GETTING A TOTAL OF 55% TARIFFS, CHINA IS GETTING 10%. RELATIONSHIP IS EXCELLENT!” But a White House official, who was not authorized to discuss the terms publicly and insisted on anonymity to describe them, said the 55% was not an increase on the previous 30% tariff on China because Trump was including pre-existing tariffs, including some left over from his first term.

 

“We have no idea what the rules are,″ said Rick Woldenberg, CEO of the educational toy company Learning Resources, who is part of a lawsuit challenging Trump’s authority to impose the tariffs. “The U.S. found it needed to back off the restrictions it had thought would generate leverage,” he said, “and in exchange, they get merely a promise by the Chinese to dole out critical minerals a bit more quickly.”

 

Veronique de Rugy, senior research fellow at George Mason University’s Mercatus Center, dismissed the London truce as “a handshake deal … It can change at any time.”

 

 

[flexomike]

Bitch whine and complain, you need to get a life

[Tug]

The rare earth minerals agreement is good for 6months not much and difficult for business planning.its kinda looking like another taco.

[spidermike007]

5 minutes ago, flexomike said:

Bitch whine and complain, you need to get a life

So does Trump. He needs to start engaging in some productivity, or the US is gone baby gone. 

 

Disinviting Rand Paul to White House picnic is not exactly productive. Neither is the destruction of tourism to the US, an industry that contributes 2.3 trillion dollars to US economic output and indirectly supports more than 20 million jobs. Do some work Don. Skip a few golf outings. Do it for the people. 

[spidermike007]

in reality, the trade truce – if that’s really what was accomplished this time around – is mostly just a return to the already-tense state of affairs from before April 2. Tariff rates from both countries remain historically high, and significant export restrictions remain in place. The United States has not opened its doors to China’s autos, nor is it going to sell its high-end AI chips anytime soon. And, in Trump’s parlance, China isn’t treating America much more “fairly” after this agreement than it did before.

 

The compounding tariffs create significant trade barriers with America’s second-largest trading partner, raising prices for American businesses and consumers with no easy fixes or clear market alternatives. Some gigantic companies, such as Apple, have complex supply chains that can withstand some of the price pressures. But even Apple, which has said it would ship most US iPhones from India as Chinese tariffs rise, said it would face a $900 million quarterly cost increase because of tariffs – at their current levels, not at the sky-high 145% rate.

 

Other businesses, such as Boeing, have been completely shut out of China’s market. Even without any tariffs or other formal barriers by China on purchases of US aircraft, Boeing has made virtually no sales in China, the world’s largest for aircraft purchases. 

[LosLobo]

You nailed the structural imbalance. What hasn’t been mentioned yet is how temporary and conditional this “deal” really is.

According to the Wall Street Journal, China’s rare-earth export licenses come with a six-month expiry—meaning Beijing can revoke or slow-walk them at will. That’s not supply chain security; that’s a ticking clock.
 

Also, Trump’s “55% tariffs” boast? WSJ confirms it’s just a rolled-up number from his old tariffs—no new penalties, no fresh leverage. Even a White House official quietly admitted it’s mostly political packaging.
 

And here’s the kicker: the WSJ reports this is basically the same Geneva framework from March 2025, just reheated in London and dressed up for domestic optics. No structural wins, no new concessions from Beijing—just a tactical pause.
 

This isn’t the Art of the Deal—it’s the art of folding and pretending you won.

https://www.wsj.com/economy/trade/u-s-and-china-agree-to-get-geneva-pact-back-on-track-695eb5f5

PS:  The timing’s no coincidence. Trump’s LA spectacle was meant to distract from the Xi “deal” falling flat—and from another looming humiliation: the quiet failure of his two-week ultimatum to Putin to end the war in Ukraine.

[BLMFem]

That deal is full on TACO.

[SunnyinBangrak]

Still the topic of every thread. Still irrelevant🤣

 

Gotta love liberal "logic".

[SunnyinBangrak]

4 minutes ago, SMIAI said:

Seems on-topic and relevant. Why is it being claimed that it is otherwise?

I guess the shills have arrived to try to deflect and insult, rather than to intelligently tackle the subject matter.

 

Because the OP recently claimed Trump is "irrelevant" while the great man is clearly on the OPs brain 24/7 and is the topic of 99.99% of posts on this forum. You're welcome

[cdemundo]

7 minutes ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

Because the OP recently claimed Trump is "irrelevant" while the great man is clearly on the OPs brain 24/7 and is the topic of 99.99% of posts on this forum. You're welcome

I've heard of Trump, who is "the great man" you speak of?

[spidermike007]

1 minute ago, SMIAI said:

But what about the topic? Why not discuss the actual topic instead of the usual tactic of attacking the messenger?

Because the vast majority of the time his supporters would prefer to deflect, and would prefer to use the same techniques that their political master uses. Addressing the issue is just not something that is commonly done. It requires both work and intellectual energy. 

[ThreeCardMonte]

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

For a man who claims to be a great negotiator he seems to be failing miserable at this point, when it comes to negotiating the hundred or so deals that he falsely promised. 

 

This so-called deal with China is astonishingly short on details and we all know why that is. Apparently it amounts to allowing Chinese students to study in the US in exchange for China doling out a few rare earth minerals here and there. China always had the upper hand in this, as the US overreached and they desperately need these minerals. 

 

Let’s be honest—this isn’t a trade “deal,” it’s a tactical climbdown. The U.S. just ate a hefty serving of humble pie, and China served it cold.

 

Beijing has exposed a core vulnerability in American strategy: economic and industrial dependence. Rare earths aren’t just commodities—they’re the backbone of U.S. defence systems, AI, and semiconductors. China controls the global refining chain, and this “deal” simply buys time—it doesn’t change the leverage.

 

The implications for Taiwan are stark. Despite relying on TSMC chips to power its military edge, the U.S. is structurally handcuffed. You can’t credibly defend a democratic ally when your missiles, radars, and drones need components processed in the aggressor’s country. Trump’s rhetoric may be loud, but his actions will be limited—he won’t jeopardise Wall Street, the tech sector, or midterm optics to defend Taiwan.

 

On social media, Trump declared: “WE ARE GETTING A TOTAL OF 55% TARIFFS, CHINA IS GETTING 10%. RELATIONSHIP IS EXCELLENT!” But a White House official, who was not authorized to discuss the terms publicly and insisted on anonymity to describe them, said the 55% was not an increase on the previous 30% tariff on China because Trump was including pre-existing tariffs, including some left over from his first term.

 

“We have no idea what the rules are,″ said Rick Woldenberg, CEO of the educational toy company Learning Resources, who is part of a lawsuit challenging Trump’s authority to impose the tariffs. “The U.S. found it needed to back off the restrictions it had thought would generate leverage,” he said, “and in exchange, they get merely a promise by the Chinese to dole out critical minerals a bit more quickly.”

 

Veronique de Rugy, senior research fellow at George Mason University’s Mercatus Center, dismissed the London truce as “a handshake deal … It can change at any time.”

 

 

Post the final results of the trade deal.

Otherwise everything you post is just more of your verbal diarrhea.

 

[ThreeCardMonte]

9 minutes ago, cdemundo said:

I've heard of Trump, who is "the great man" you speak of?

 
Right here with his beautiful wife 

 

 

[ThreeCardMonte]

1 hour ago, BLMFem said:

That deal is full on TACO.

Do you have the results or just clutching your pearls?

[Magictoad]

4 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

For a man who claims to be a great negotiator he seems to be failing miserable at this point, when it comes to negotiating the hundred or so deals that he falsely promised. 

 

This so-called deal with China is astonishingly short on details and we all know why that is. Apparently it amounts to allowing Chinese students to study in the US in exchange for China doling out a few rare earth minerals here and there. China always had the upper hand in this, as the US overreached and they desperately need these minerals. 

 

Let’s be honest—this isn’t a trade “deal,” it’s a tactical climbdown. The U.S. just ate a hefty serving of humble pie, and China served it cold.

 

Beijing has exposed a core vulnerability in American strategy: economic and industrial dependence. Rare earths aren’t just commodities—they’re the backbone of U.S. defence systems, AI, and semiconductors. China controls the global refining chain, and this “deal” simply buys time—it doesn’t change the leverage.

 

The implications for Taiwan are stark. Despite relying on TSMC chips to power its military edge, the U.S. is structurally handcuffed. You can’t credibly defend a democratic ally when your missiles, radars, and drones need components processed in the aggressor’s country. Trump’s rhetoric may be loud, but his actions will be limited—he won’t jeopardise Wall Street, the tech sector, or midterm optics to defend Taiwan.

 

On social media, Trump declared: “WE ARE GETTING A TOTAL OF 55% TARIFFS, CHINA IS GETTING 10%. RELATIONSHIP IS EXCELLENT!” But a White House official, who was not authorized to discuss the terms publicly and insisted on anonymity to describe them, said the 55% was not an increase on the previous 30% tariff on China because Trump was including pre-existing tariffs, including some left over from his first term.

 

“We have no idea what the rules are,″ said Rick Woldenberg, CEO of the educational toy company Learning Resources, who is part of a lawsuit challenging Trump’s authority to impose the tariffs. “The U.S. found it needed to back off the restrictions it had thought would generate leverage,” he said, “and in exchange, they get merely a promise by the Chinese to dole out critical minerals a bit more quickly.”

 

Veronique de Rugy, senior research fellow at George Mason University’s Mercatus Center, dismissed the London truce as “a handshake deal … It can change at any time.”

 

 

Do I get the impression you are not a fan of Trump but as he's only been in power a matter of months; all the negatives cleverly designed into an American flag should surely be laid at the feet of the previous President? BIDEN & his wife who it appears was actually running the country for the last 4 years or so?

[theshu25]

11 minutes ago, ThreeCardMonte said:

 
Right here with his beautiful wife 

 

 

I read yesterday that she  has split up with the arrogant grifting pig . 

[jvs]

15 minutes ago, ThreeCardMonte said:

Post the final results of the trade deal.

Otherwise everything you post is just more of your verbal diarrhea.

 

That is just the thing,there is no trade deal.

Nothing to show on paper that proves a deal has been done.

Maybe concepts of a trade deal but not really ?

[ThreeCardMonte]

7 minutes ago, theshu25 said:

I read yesterday that she  has split up with the arrogant grifting pig . 

That’s nice.

 

Now, you can write him a letter telling him you’re available anytime, anywhere, anyplace.

 

 

[Cameroni]

Nobody can evaulate the deal yet as the details are not known.

 

There is a deal, but the terms are confidential for now.

[Seagull Sam]

45 minutes ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

Still the topic of every thread. Still irrelevant🤣

 

Gotta love liberal "logic".

And you the facts to back up your views? Abuse rather than rhetoric, it's always the same. 

And there's me thinking neo-liberal was a byword for American world domination. 

[transam]

49 minutes ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

Because the OP recently claimed Trump is "irrelevant" while the great man is clearly on the OPs brain 24/7 and is the topic of 99.99% of posts on this forum. You're welcome

"Great man"...........🤣

[atpeace]

4 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

For a man who claims to be a great negotiator he seems to be failing miserable at this point, when it comes to negotiating the hundred or so deals that he falsely promised. 

 

This so-called deal with China is astonishingly short on details and we all know why that is. Apparently it amounts to allowing Chinese students to study in the US in exchange for China doling out a few rare earth minerals here and there. China always had the upper hand in this, as the US overreached and they desperately need these minerals. 

 

Let’s be honest—this isn’t a trade “deal,” it’s a tactical climbdown. The U.S. just ate a hefty serving of humble pie, and China served it cold.

 

Beijing has exposed a core vulnerability in American strategy: economic and industrial dependence. Rare earths aren’t just commodities—they’re the backbone of U.S. defence systems, AI, and semiconductors. China controls the global refining chain, and this “deal” simply buys time—it doesn’t change the leverage.

 

The implications for Taiwan are stark. Despite relying on TSMC chips to power its military edge, the U.S. is structurally handcuffed. You can’t credibly defend a democratic ally when your missiles, radars, and drones need components processed in the aggressor’s country. Trump’s rhetoric may be loud, but his actions will be limited—he won’t jeopardise Wall Street, the tech sector, or midterm optics to defend Taiwan.

 

On social media, Trump declared: “WE ARE GETTING A TOTAL OF 55% TARIFFS, CHINA IS GETTING 10%. RELATIONSHIP IS EXCELLENT!” But a White House official, who was not authorized to discuss the terms publicly and insisted on anonymity to describe them, said the 55% was not an increase on the previous 30% tariff on China because Trump was including pre-existing tariffs, including some left over from his first term.

 

“We have no idea what the rules are,″ said Rick Woldenberg, CEO of the educational toy company Learning Resources, who is part of a lawsuit challenging Trump’s authority to impose the tariffs. “The U.S. found it needed to back off the restrictions it had thought would generate leverage,” he said, “and in exchange, they get merely a promise by the Chinese to dole out critical minerals a bit more quickly.”

 

Veronique de Rugy, senior research fellow at George Mason University’s Mercatus Center, dismissed the London truce as “a handshake deal … It can change at any time.”

 

 

Let's be honest - you don't have a clue what the deal entails and neither do I.  Do you have inside info that the rest of don't have?  The Chinese aren't talking and Trump's ramblings about the deal can't be taken seriously. 

 

If I had to guess, the deal will include substantial tariff increases (20% higher than when Trump took office) and a relaxing of Chinas rare mineral exports.  The USA will pivot away from needing China's rare minerals over the next few years and China will fall from the top trading partner it was just a year ago to out of the top 3.  This isn't going to end well for China and the USA will suffer in short term. This is my big guess 🙂

[spidermike007]

1 hour ago, theshu25 said:

I read yesterday that she  has split up with the arrogant grifting pig . 

It has likely been a staged marriage for a decade or longer, you can see her contempt for him with her body language and her extreme lack of affection. 

[BLMFem]

2 hours ago, ThreeCardMonte said:

Do you have the results or just clutching your pearls?

No, I leave that to you pros.

[spidermike007]

2 hours ago, Magictoad said:

Do I get the impression you are not a fan of Trump but as he's only been in power a matter of months; all the negatives cleverly designed into an American flag should surely be laid at the feet of the previous President? BIDEN & his wife who it appears was actually running the country for the last 4 years or so?

Not really. Sure Biden takes some of the blame as does Trump in his prior term, and as do Bush Jr. and Sr., and all the presidents going back to Reagan, arguably, when the real decline started. 

 

America is a mess, it's on the decline on two dozen different levels, and neither Trump nor even somebody with real intelligence could fix the problems to the point where they could right the ship, and make America even a pale shadow of its former self. 

 

The past is the past, and very old men like the goon are burdened with a huge level of sentimentality, and they think that the past can be reclaimed. But America's days as an industrial might are five decades in the rear view. 

 

 

[dutch boy]

2 hours ago, ThreeCardMonte said:

 
Right here with his beautiful wife 

 

 

A very beautiful woman and a very lucky man. 

[Lacessit]

Facts of life:

 

China mines 70% of the world's rare earths.

 

It processes 90% into useable form.

 

The US military is dependent on rare earths for advanced weapons technologies.

 

America only has one operating rare earth mine. It sends its production to China for beneficiation.

 

Putting it bluntly, Xi has Trump's testicles in a vice.

[BLMFem]

19 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

It has likely been a staged marriage for a decade or longer, you can see her contempt for him with her body language and her extreme lack of affection. 

"Extreme lack of affection". 😂

[Harrisfan]

10 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Facts of life:

 

China mines 70% of the world's rare earths.

 

It processes 90% into useable form.

 

The US military is dependent on rare earths for advanced weapons technologies.

 

America only has one operating rare earth mine. It sends its production to China for beneficiation.

 

Putting it bluntly, Xi has Trump's testicles in a vice.

Trump is rich. Not a pensioner.

[CanadaSam]

I forsee a LOT of walking back on Trump's stupid ridiculous statements and actions in the future.

 

Wait until the common people feel the full force of increased costs for almost everything.

 

I wouldn't be surprised to see a civil uprising and/or impeachment.