that Trump will win the trade war
Not because he is right
Not that smething had to be done
Just because they believe
Well: blind faith is admirable
But sometimes you have to have a dose of reality
An old college class mate, now retired wrote an op-ed in the local paper
I found it rather revealing
This man was a sharp cookie. His father worked in a glass factory. But the young man wanted something better, so he paid his way and went to college
He worked in several high end jobs. I would see a write up about some thing he would be quoted as saying or what he was doing. [I am trying to protect his name] He finally ended up in china for 2 1/2 yrs
It seems his job was negotiating with the chinese
He said it took him 2 yrs to figure out the chinese. Until then he had very little success and was at a loss to know why.
Then as he said it he figured out the chinese "play book" That being the chinese live to negotiate
He said they will even negotiate who goes out the door 1st. Their whole business culture is an endless negotiation
Americians want to sit down, spend a couple hrs or maybe an afternoon at the table, wrap things up in time for a cocktail and leave it to the lawyers to put the fine print on the document. And then, maybe a round of golf the next day
Chinese do it differently. Some will negotiate a week or more. Some for months. He said some would negotiate for a yr or more. They love to negotiate
This man said he laughs at the americians if they think they can out negotiate the Chinese. The chinese never stop
Eventually the americians will throw in the towel
They may declare victory in some fashion, but it will not be a true win
If you don't understand the chinese culture, then you don't have a chance
Two cultures that will never see any agreement on the current trade war
At least this is what my old class mate wrote and I truly believe him
2 1/2 yrs of living in china and negotiating with both the chinese and americians [at different times of his career] must have taught him something useful
A brief bio about this man
I think his 1st job as CEO was in his mid 30's or early 40's as near as I can remember. And not a small no name Co. either. It was a well known Co. in the Ag world.
From there he advanced up the CEO ladder to bigger and bigger, until he finally retired
This guy could talk the leg off anybody, wasn't a show boat in college, but always dressed for success. I gave him credit, as if he already knew he was going to do big things, but had to pay his own way for funds.
His dad almost dis-owned him for refusing a job in the glass factory. My friend laughed about that episode while in college.
I am proud to say I roomed right across the hall way from him, and spent many a night talking into the wee hrs of the morning
He was a fountain of knowledge. Much more knowledgeable than I ever was. Much of which, I believe was an appetite for extensive reading, listening to people more knowledgeable than himself and an ability to grasp complicated class room lessons.
I do believe I should give him a call some day.
Might be some more interesting conversation.
So who is it Wayne?
The Chinese can certainly negotiate ad infinitum in their own backyard where they make the rules. But they are not in control of all the rules in this negotiation. The fact is, they need the American consumer more than the American consumer needs Chinese goods. The question comes down to how long they can withstand the economic battering they are currently facing.
And blind faith is never admirable.
Hi Mike
I would not want to intrude on this man's privacy
He is retired, but I can say he is not a well known name. How many candians are well known???
If I do talk to him I will mention this forum
I could use another Canadian voice on an American forum
Don't hold your breath, it may be some time before I make contact
I think he would add another perspective, but maybe his world is all business and non politico which this forum tends to be top heavy and a Canadian feels left out
No fault of the forum, or posters, just the way it is
I have some time to kill in his town, which may find me giving him a call, if I can find his phone number
OK, thanks.