China Kills Trade Talks With U.S. Amid Escalation in Tariff Threats

China scotched trade talks with the U.S. that were planned for the coming days, according to people briefed on the matter, further dimming prospects for resolving a trade battle between the world’s two largest economies.    WSJ 

In conf'rence rooms the talk has stopped,

as delegates all pretense dropped.

America and China sigh,

and despair of one more try;

the tariff talks have just plain flopped.

They are the dead, and so are we

if we don't change the history

of doltish leaders who contend

from their high horses to defend

outmoded economic scree.

Take up our cause with rectitude,

and do not sit around and brood.

Swallow pride (and Diazepam)

and find a way out of this sham.

If you break faith with common folk,

we'll take you down as we go broke!