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US head trade rep changes names to soothe Trump's feelings after Chinese rep laughs at him
An exasperated Robert Lighthizer, the U.S. trade representative, tried to gently educate his boss, Donald Trump, on the meaning of a “memorandum of understanding” in the Oval Office on Friday, leading to a presidential lecture in front of television cameras and a top Chinese official.
...
Trump told gathered reporters that the memorandums would “be very short term. I don’t like MOUs because they don’t mean anything. To me, they don’t mean anything.”
Lighthizer then jumped in to defend the strategy, with Trump looking on. “An MOU is a binding agreement between two people,” he said. “It’s detailed. It covers everything in great detail. It’s a legal term. It’s a contract.”
But the president, unswayed, fired back at Lighthizer. “By the way I disagree,” Trump said.
The top Chinese negotiator, Vice Premier Liu He, laughed out loud.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-22/trump-s-trade-chief-lectures-his-boss-and-gets-earful-in-return
...
Trump told gathered reporters that the memorandums would “be very short term. I don’t like MOUs because they don’t mean anything. To me, they don’t mean anything.”
Lighthizer then jumped in to defend the strategy, with Trump looking on. “An MOU is a binding agreement between two people,” he said. “It’s detailed. It covers everything in great detail. It’s a legal term. It’s a contract.”
But the president, unswayed, fired back at Lighthizer. “By the way I disagree,” Trump said.
The top Chinese negotiator, Vice Premier Liu He, laughed out loud.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-22/trump-s-trade-chief-lectures-his-boss-and-gets-earful-in-return
No more MOUs! USTR Lighthizer tweaks trade terminology after dispute with Trump
“From now on we’re not using the word Memorandum of Understanding anymore. We’re going to use the term trade agreement, all right?” he said.
“OK,” the Chinese vice premier, sitting next to Lighthizer, responded.
“Assuming you decide on an agreement ... it’ll be a trade agreement between the United States and China,” Lighthizer told the president.
“Good,” Trump said. “I like that much better.”
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-china-trump/no-more-mous-ustr-lighthizer-tweaks-trade-terminology-after-dispute-with-trump-idUSKCN1QB2OR
“From now on we’re not using the word Memorandum of Understanding anymore. We’re going to use the term trade agreement, all right?” he said.
“OK,” the Chinese vice premier, sitting next to Lighthizer, responded.
“Assuming you decide on an agreement ... it’ll be a trade agreement between the United States and China,” Lighthizer told the president.
“Good,” Trump said. “I like that much better.”
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-china-trump/no-more-mous-ustr-lighthizer-tweaks-trade-terminology-after-dispute-with-trump-idUSKCN1QB2OR
And then it was time for baby's nap, after an extra scoop of ice-cream for being such a good boy ...
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