White House Still Can’t Get Its Story Straight On China Deal
December 9, 2018
On Friday, Peter Navarro and Larry Kudlow contradicted each other on the 90-day deadline for suspension of tariff increases with China, which contributed to a 500-point drop in the Dow. And then today, Larry Kudlow and Robert Lighthizer also contradicted each other. It’s clear the White House can’t get its story straight.
On Fox News Sunday, Chris Wallace highlighted how the White House can’t get its story straight on the 90-day deadline.
Wallace: “Forget the Chinese, the White House can’t seem to get its own story straight.”
In response, Trump’s top economic advisor, Larry Kudlow, suggested that Trump could extend the deadline after 90 days.
Kudlow: “We are focused right now on this first 90-day increment. Regarding what may happen in the future and presidential considerations, that will be up to POTUS, of course.”
At the same time, on CBS’ Face The Nation, Trump’s U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said it’s a “hard deadline.”
Lighthizer: “As far as I’m concerned it’s a hard deadline. When I talk to the President of the United States, he’s not talking about going beyond March.”
Well, which is it?