OK, so we got those reports behind us now and ...

[rickgthf]

  OK, so  we got those big reports behind us without any big catastrophes, so now it's on to signing Phase One.  We still don't know anything about what's in Phase One despite there being some serious differences between the American hype and what the Chinese are saying.

  The thing is, we're still 12 MMT (30%) behind on our soybean sales by the first week in Jan. from where we were two years ago despite the fact that prices are $1+ lower.  And we're 8.6 MMT(32%) behind on corn.

  What's interesting is there's only been one 74,000 MT load of beans purchased by China since the agreement was announced and only three days to go.  You'd think the Chinese would announce the purchase of a few loads just to sweeten the deal.  Maybe Monday they'll make a last minute announcement.  Or maybe they're just tired of the whole thing.

[roarintiger1]

Gotta sign the deal to see what's in it.    🙂

[freedom1493]

I haven't been following the actual Phase I signing ... mainly since I don't believe it will occur (hope I am wrong) ... but has CHINA itself confirmed a signing date and place?

[rickgthf]

The Chinese will be here 13-15 and say they'll sign Wednesday.

  If it all doesn't blow up next week.

  The truth is, if you read the Asian papers, Phase One is not a sure thing, at all.  Every thing depends on what happens Monday and Tuesday in Washington.  For example, so far Xi has flat out refused to have a summit signing or even to meet with Trump. 

[BA Deere]

I`ve heard that too about Chinese papers not confirming our version of what we think is in Phase One.   I don`t know if it`s their fake news lying to the people much like Iran saying their bombing of the US military base resulted in the deaths of 80 Americans when in reality it was only cosmetic damage to the US base.  

This is what happens when you deal with lying cröoks (the Chinese trade officials)...maybe Trump should walk away from the January signing until the Chinese get their (you know what) together and Xi shows up motivated with 2 fresh ink pens in his hand   until then No Deal!

[freedom1493]

With yesterday's Taiwan's anti-mainland China election results (pro-independence President Tsai Ing-wen was reelected), the Chinese govt is presently indulging in a serious hissy fit.  Combine that with the timing of their holiday celebrations, I just don't see how Phase I signing will happen next week.  ...popcorn popping.

Addendum:  IF they do sign it next week, that is a huge signal that their food need/resource situation is dire.

[sw363535]

Does china have a free press?   A "news"paper?  The communist party has Reuters, but what opinion or unapproved info can they (or we) read?

But ---- Why do we continue to repeat the propaganda that trump haters love?  Tarrifs and no deal is the best thing we can have.  If we never sold them another bushel and limited their exports into the US, we would be big money ahead.  The world grain supply would be tighter.  If apple was limited in volume of phones to import maybe they would stop using "cheap" labor for extroardinary profits.

If we took half of the 400B we loose to china every year, and for one year built good grain storage and grain handling facilities that weren't 75 years old, expanded the use of commodities in the US and sold far more finished product.  Or just sat on a 4 year supply in good condition (and we have many locations where it can be stored for long periods of time) we would be in a much better position being the worlds "carry" protector and more expensive source.  Similar to a 1950's thought where we knew the world was in big trouble without us.  

Now we think the rest of the world is in big trouble if we don't let them steal from us.  

I know, I am expecting way too much from simpleton voters and big hearted courts.

[BA Deere]

China does not have a free press, ask those in Hong Kong and Tibet, the communist party runs things, if they want to get ahead they have to tow the line.  And if you`re a good enough line tow`er you could join the Chinese billionaire club with Jack Ma, etal the rest are social outcasts.  A newpaper questioning the "10% GDP growth and 300% debt to GDP in China" get their teeth knocked out.  And it reaches into this country look at the basketball coach supporting Hong Kong protesters, a player that has Chinese shoe contracts quickly took China`s side. *

* I don`t keep up with this basketball player`s names, but you all recall the story from 3 months ago.