FEATURED
THE TOP THREE
1. President Trump raises tariffs on China

What's going on
Last Friday, the United States raised tariffs from 10% to 25% on $200 billion worth Chinese exports after trade talks in Washington fell through. The U.S. says China backtracked on commitments made during recent negotiations. The Chinese government expressed "deep regret over the development" and said it would take "necessary countermeasures," which it did this morning by announcing tariffs on $60 billion of U.S. exports.
What Ambassadors are saying
Thursday, May 8: “Bob Lighthizer, I’ve talked to him on some of these issues, he knows what he’s doing. I think the administration needs to stick to its guns. China, at the end of any negotiation I’ve ever had with them, tried to backtrack. They try to test you to see if you’re going to follow through completely. The issue is enforcement. They don’t want enforcement of what they’ve agreed to on intellectual property rights or on transfer of technologies. So we need to stick to our guns. Now the danger for President [Trump] with China is he can’t look like he has been backed into a corner. That he is responding to pressure. The Chinese economy is weak right now. The President of China has to deliver. He has enormous pressure on his own, but at the same time we can’t let China off the hook on enforcement. (Ambassador Bill Richardson, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Fox Business )
2. South Africa's elections

What's going on
Last Wednesday, South Africa held its sixth election since the end of apartheid. Elections results show the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party with 57% of the vote, Democratic Alliance (DA) with 21%, and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) with 10%. Analysts predict that ANC will prevail with up to 59% of the vote.
What Ambassadors are saying
"The thing that I found interesting about this election is that folks have very clearly articulated their sense of what they believe [South Africans] see as the major problem. For the EFF it's land. For the DA it's corruption. For the ANC it's 'we understand the need to empower people economically and politically.' ...South Africa needs to be in the business of big picture vision. It has the most sophisticated and robust economy on the continent. South Africa also has one of the deepest benches when it comes to political talent and civic talent. South Africa ought to be positioning itself as the epicenter of all things African." Ambassador Charles Stith, former U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania, CNBC Africa )
3. U.S. seizes North Korean Cargo Ship

What's going on
Last Thursday, North Korea fired two rounds of short-range missiles for the second time that week. On the same day the United States seized a North Korean cargo ship that was violating international sanctions. Its 25 crew members are back in North Korea.
What Ambassadors are saying
“The North Koreans are being provocative, but at the same time they're not closing the door on negotiations. They're saying, 'hey, we're still around.' These are short-range rockets and they don't necessarily endanger Japan. They don't violate the pledge Kim Jong Un basically gave to President [Trump] about testing long-range missiles/nuclear missiles. What they're saying is, 'look you have to come to the table with our position which is we're not going to denuclearlize and we want sanctions relief.' Right now things are not looking good, but it's not a hapless situation...Putin is clearly helping Kim Jong Un. Putin can't give him money, but maybe he's giving him a little technology. Maybe Putin is helping him violate sanctions on the Russian border a bit." (Ambassador Bill Richardson, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Fox News )
CONNECT WITH US
If you know someone in your contact list who would like American Ambassadors Weekly, forward this email so that he or she can click this link to subscribe without cost .