Mattman--not putting forth the position that the Chinese are independent of the worries that a little malentendu would cause for both sides--after all, major trade means that both sides are significantly invested in the outcome. I am just maintaining that in this case if all other factors are equal and if the above quoted analyst is (note the subjunctive tone here) off the mark in his expectation, then it seems that one side would have to blink first and it is my mere postulation that it would perhaps be the EU.
In trade wars (or even spats) one side rarely prevails without scars. This would need to be settled long before Foxconn (sp?) workers have to idle the assembly lines for our iPads or that Airbus has to tell its workers to take a long weekend away with the missus.
Without that level of brinkmanship I just have a hunch that the Chinese have a bit more leverage in this game.
Last edited by Uncle Fred; 5th January 2012 at 23:41.