According to Ted Cruz, farmers and small business owners in the 29m strong state of Texas stand to 'gain a lot' through economic ties with the 23m strong state of Taiwan on the other side of the world. Cruz's meeting with the Taiwanese leader and subsequent comment is a striking example of meaningless sabre-rattling and ill-conceived bravado. Trade to Taiwan which comprises just over 1% of the state's exports and 0.2% of the state's GDP is hardly likely to make the list of the top 100 priorities for 2017. So Cruz's comment is more about "showing China who's boss" which is all well and good if there's an active negotiation to be helped along by doing so, but the action taken on a purely ad hoc basis as it was, JUST to antagonise China, shows that the US is going to go to the table with a win-lose mentality rather than one that tries to deliver the greatest possible benefit to both countries. So much for the 'art of the deal'.... http://www.inkl.com/news/texas-republicans-meet-with-taiwan-leader-over-china-objections