The willingness to use every weapon to block an agreement to reduce emissions, is another point for the theory that part of the economic base of Trumpism is a group of capital-owners who’ve decided that a rational response to climate change would involve an unacceptable loss of prerogatives.

“It is as though Europe is in a fight and bleeding out, but not wanting to take counter actions because it is afraid the opponent may step on its toe.”

"yes Mr President but theoretically, if I did recall our ambassador, what level would our tariffs be at...............uh huh, well that is a big number"

Another big open question: if tech rules are the red line, who and what holds it? There has been little appetite for retaliation against the US or even using the Anti-Coercion Instrument against US tech and finance, and France as the biggest proponent is in political turmoil.

They autonomously arrived at the decision to surrender unconditionally.