8/24/2019

My dear friend and president, DJT,

            I hope you got some rest on Airforce One so you have plenty of energy to face your day at the G7. Biarritz looks lovely. I hope you take a minute to enjoy the beauty of the place. Maybe go out to the beach to see the surfers or go to the new Cité de l'Océan et du Surf where you could do a bunch of virtual reality activities to learn more about the ocean. I expect that it would help you understand why the G7 folk are worried about plastics in the ocean. It would be well worth the visit.

            It was great to hear that you were enthusiastic about your lunch with EJFM and feel that you have "a lot in common" and “have been friends a long time.”

            You've done a good job of stirring things up with the new China tariffs and your suggestion that American companies stop doing business there. Who knows what that will do to our economy, but I am in favor of jacking up the prices on toys, costume jewelry and cell phones. We have too much junk in America and much of it is made in China - especially holiday trinkets. Does anyone really need more plastic ornaments? Apparently, 60% of the worlds' Christmas decorations are made in Yiwu, China, where 600 factories make 400,000 different products. The workers there will be hit hard by these tariffs, but their jobs are probably not good for their health, and they might be happier back in their rural villages with their families.

            When you go into trade deliberations with XJ, I encourage you to take a chill pill because according to Andy Mok, from the Center for China and Globalization, “In high-stakes negotiations, the side that reacts emotionally generally is the side that does not do well. The U.S. side is approaching this from a more emotional side, while China is more calm and calculating.” 

            I hope you are calm during all your meetings in Biarritz.

            Best,