Trump says that China has submitted a list of trade demands, may make a deal

President Trump said Friday that further tariffs against China may not be needed, provided the two countries can reach a reciprocal trade deal, a suggestion that he is more optimistic about the prospects for negotiations. "We have another $267 billion [in tariffs ready] to go if we want to, [but] we may not have to do that. China wants to make a deal," Trump said at a White House bill signing event. "China has never been in this position, and I don't want to put China in a bad position," he said. "I want to put them in a good position, but we have to have reciprocal trade … I think a deal will be made. We'll find out very soon." The president said that China has delivered a written response to Washington regarding its trade demands, but the details of the response have not been disclosed. Administration officials have pressured China to put its positions in writing, something Beijing has resisted doing as that would limit their negotiating ability. "They sent a list of things that they are willing to do. Which was a large list. It's just not acceptable to me yet," Trump said. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to talk on trade during the G-20 summit in Argentina next week. Administration sources have previously leaked to various media outlets that tariffs covering as much as $267 billion worth of Chinese goods could be announced if no progress is made at the meeting. The U.S. has already hit $250 billion worth of Chinese goods with tariffs ranging from 10 to 25 percent. The existing tariffs are set to hit 25 percent across the board next year.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/economy/trump-says-that-china-has-submitted-a-list-of-trade-demands-may-make-a-deal

Lindsey Graham to prioritize Justice Department oversight as committee chairman

Sen. Lindsey Graham wants to make oversight of the Department of Justice and the FBI a top priority if he takes the helm of the Senate Judiciary Committee in the next Congress. he South Carolina Republican is next in line to become Judiciary chairman now that Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, has said he’ll return to running the Senate Finance Committee. “The oversight function would very much be front and center,” Graham said this week after a reporter asked him how he’ll run the committee and whether he’d investigate special counsel Robert Mueller’s handling of the investigation into alleged Trump campaign collusion with Russia.

Graham has also criticized Trump at times and supports legislation to protect the Mueller investigation, even though he doesn't think it's necessary. Trump has called the investigation a witch hunt, but has not made any specific move to end it, although some believe the ousting of Attorney General Jeff Sessions is a threat to Mueller. “The idea of having a check and balance makes sense to me,” Graham said of legislation offered by Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., and Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., that would make it difficult for the president to fire Mueller. “I would support it if it came to the floor, but I don’t see an imminent threat to Mueller.” Graham said Session’s replacement won’t try to stop Mueller. “He understands the position he is in,” Graham said. “He’s probably not going to be the next attorney general but this is a chance for him to show that he can handle responsibility. This enhances his political future if he handles this well. It would be a nightmare for us to truncate the Mueller investigation and I think he understands that.”

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/congress/lindsey-graham-to-prioritize-justice-department-oversight-as-committee-chairman

Katie Porter unseats incumbent Republican Mimi Walters in fifth California upset

Newcomer Katie Porter, a Democrat, has unseated incumbent Republican Rep. Mimi Walters to take the Orange County, Calif., district, according to race results issued late Thursday. Porter's victory marks the fifth House seat that Republicans have lost in the state as a result of last week's elections. Democrats have won 44 of the state's 53 districts. Up and down the West Coast, Democrats cleaned house on election night, leaving only 38 miles of the 2,000-mile Pacific coast in the hands of Republicans.

The Associated Press called the race for the 45th Congressional District Thursday evening after Porter, a law professor at University of California-Irvine,climbed to a 6,203-vote lead over her opponent. Porter, 44, will represent residents of Mission Viejo, Tustin, Irvine, Rancho Santa Margarita, and Laguna Hills. She is similar to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., in that both women went after big banks as consumer attorneys. Walters, 56, lives outside the district. She was previously a stockbroker and state legislator before ascending to Congress in 2014.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/katie-porter-unseats-incumbent-republican-mimi-walters-in-fifth-california-upset