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Protesters against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law on the street outside the National Assembly in Seoul, on Dec 4. WASHINGTON - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s brief imposition of martial law marks a new warning for the worldwide fragility of democracy, even in a country hailed as a model of political transformation. Mr Yoon’s overnight attempt to shut down political activity, censor media and lock out opposition lawmakers stunned South Korea’s longtime ally, the United States, which said it had no advance warning and issued a statement of concern. South Korea’s transition to elected rule since a mass uprising in 1987 had been seen as so thorough that the United States increasingly spoke of its ally as a global partner. Meanwhile, Seoul billed itself as a new, ideal hub for international media as China clamped down on Hong Kong. President Joe Biden had even chosen Mr Yoon as the host in March of his final Summit for Democracy – a signature initiative of the outgoing US leader, who sought to champion liberal values globally, in an unstated repudiation of Donald Trump, who returns to the White House in January. But observers, while stunned by Mr Yoon, said there were warning signs. Mr Danny Russel, a top US diplomat for Asia under former president Barack Obama and who earlier served in South Korea, pointed to the deadlock in parliament where the opposition repeatedly sought impeachments against Mr Yoon’s administration. Mr Yoon’s move “was a complete surprise to me (but) yes, there were very obvious structural forces at work,” he said. “There is a radically polarized political scene in Korea. The opposition has been pursuing scorched-earth political obstruction tactics,” he said. But he pointed to the quick, large-scale protests that erupted after Mr Yoon’s declaration as a sign of a vibrant civil society ready to defend democracy. “One certainly would hope that this would serve as a wake-up call to both the ruling conservative party and the progressive opposition that both sides have gone too far and that there needs to be some process of reconciliation, of dealing with legitimate differences and grievances.” Authoritarian tendencies Mr Yoon himself had earlier shown signs of authoritarianism. In a national address in 2023, Mr Yoon raged against supposed communists who have “disguised themselves as democracy activists, human rights advocates or progressive activists”. A prosecutor, Mr Yoon narrowly won the 2022 election on a platform of economic reform and advocated close ties with the United States as well as historic rival Japan. But his popularity swiftly slid and the opposition won the National Assembly. Professor Celeste Arrington, a Korea expert at George Washington University, noted that Mr Yoon had never held elected office before and had become increasingly frustrated. “This is really an extreme move that may signal, I think, the president’s lack of political experience,” she said. She said that martial law showed “some cracks in democracy” but that the quick reversal “gives me hope in the health and strength and vibrancy of democracy in South Korea”. Mr Bruce Klingner, a senior research fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation, expected Mr Yoon’s career to be over after attempting martial law, which constitutionally can only be imposed for wars or other emergencies. “Yoon’s action is a damning reversal to decades of South Korean efforts to put its authoritarian past behind it,” he said. Democracy stronger? The number of democracies worldwide soared starting in the late 1980s as the Soviet Union collapsed and student-led uprisings brought reforms elsewhere. But globally, democracy has been in retreat for the last 18 straight years, according to the Washington-based group Freedom House, which promotes political liberty. Democratically elected leaders have taken increasingly authoritarian steps in countries as diverse as India, Turkey and Hungary. V-Dem, another closely watched democracy index, had most recently ranked South Korea third in Asia after Taiwan and Japan. In the United States, Trump has rejected long-held norms, refusing to accept he lost to Mr Biden four years ago – culminating in his supporters violently rampaging through the US Capitol. Trump’s rejection of democracy ultimately worked out for him: campaigning on the rage of 2020, he won the November election. But experts said Mr Yoon’s power play – and its reversal – could in fact show a victory for democratic values. “Yoon is a deeply unpopular and ineffectual leader, but there was nothing I saw of people being dissatisfied with the way government runs,” Mr Alan Yu, a senior vice-president at the left-leaning Centre for American Progress, said after a recent trip to Seoul. Professor Darcie Draudt-Vejares of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said that with the swift response to Mr Yoon, “this crisis may ultimately strengthen Korean democracy by reaffirming civilian control and demonstrating institutional resilience”. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel now
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Van Nistelrooy’s first game in charge ended with a 3-1 win over West Ham, thanks to goals from Jamie Vardy, Bilal El Khannouss and Patson Daka. The Dutchman, who was out of work for just two weeks following his four-game spell as Manchester United interim boss, only started on Sunday so was happy to end a hectic three days in style. “It has been very busy getting to know everyone, start working together,” he said. “Everybody was involved with that and helping, it was busy, long days, but worth it. I was focused on the game and what the game needed, the subs, the half-time talk, so focused on the moment, so I am going to get myself a little beer and reflect on the last three days.” He endured a dream start as Vardy scored after just 98 seconds with El Khannouss and Daka adding second-half goals. It was by no means one-way traffic, though, as West Ham – who scored a consolation through Niclas Fullkrug at the death – had 30 shots on goal. But Van Nistelrooy saw enough to think he can deliver on his objective of keeping the Foxes in the Premier League. “I am very happy, if you look at the result – and it is about the result – it was a great night, three points, three good goals and also very effective. Ruud at the wheel 🛞 pic.twitter.com/eVgIwWAcYw — Leicester City (@LCFC) December 3, 2024 “Overall the game of course we have seen and how dominant West Ham were at certain stages and what they created, that is a fact and something we have to look at. “Overall, what I expected of the players going forward was togetherness and hunger, energy and spirit in this team that is fighting for every inch. “Eleven players on the pitch who are fighting as a foundation to play the rest of the Premier League. I saw that completely with every single player that started and came on. “That’s the foundation we have to build on, without that it will be impossible to get where we want to go. I am very happy about that.” West Ham’s hierarchy will have seen what impact a managerial change can have as the jury remains out on Julen Lopetegui, with away fans making their feelings clear by chanting “You’re getting sacked in the morning”. Lopetegui expects to keep his job but forthcoming games against his former club Wolves, Bournemouth, Brighton and Southampton could determine the Spaniard’s future. “The only thing that I am worried about is to go to training session tomorrow and stand up the players and prepare the next challenge,” he said. “We have one month of December with a lot of matches and I am sure with this attitude we are going to achieve many more points. “I believe in the players. I am confident that tomorrow we are going to be ready to prepare the next match. “Understanding the question, but at the end of the season maybe we talk in another way. There are a lot of matches and points, a lot of things can happen. “I believe in these players and team, I am sure the position is going to be much better. They are only words but we have to work a lot to achieve this.”
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Admit it, Florida: You have a serious illegal gambling problem. A three-part Sun Sentinel investigation, “A gambling underworld,” shines a bright light in dark corners, where storefront casinos are thriving with online gaming that closely resembles slot machines. It’s blatantly illegal, but it’s right there at a nearby strip mall. Part 1: Hundreds of illegal casinos operate in Florida , some in the open, others behind locked doors and dark glass. Several owners or operators have criminal records, including for drug trafficking and racketeering. Despite police raids, many arcades have reopened. Part 2: At least nine illegal casinos in Florida obtained federal COVID-relief loans intended to help small businesses make payroll during the pandemic. Four businesses were later raided, but almost all of the taxpayer-backed loans were forgiven. Part 3: Illegal casinos are often accused of stiffing players by manipulating slot machines or refusing to pay winners. These are especially dangerous places for gambling addicts, some of whom have squandered their life’s savings. Despite periodic police raids, this seedy wickedness flourishes. These shady operations exploit Florida’s most vulnerable people, including seniors who came south seeking fun in the fun but found loneliness and financial desperation. Florida does a poor job of tracking the human toll that gambling takes on its residents. A 2002 University of Florida study found that Floridians were more than twice as likely to be at risk for gambling addiction than the national average. It was billed as the first study of problem gambling in Florida, a state seriously blighted by gambling addiction. Florida keeps expanding legalized gambling, despite a 2018 constitutional amendment that purported to require voter approval for gambling expansion. That includes legal sports betting, which has caused a 138% spike in calls to a state gambling addiction hotline, according to a Tampa Bay TV station, WFTS. That hotline was funded by the state and tribal casinos, but the state Council on Compulsive Gambling, which operates the hotline, 1-888-ADMIT-IT, lost the $2 million that was appropriated from the state, forcing it to cut half its staff. The cut apparently resulted from a dispute with the Florida Gaming Control Commission, the Sun Sentinel reported earlier . In other ways, the state shirks its duty to protect Floridians from the scourge of problem gambling. In the last legislative session, Rep. Michelle Salzman, R-Pensacola, filed legislation ( HB 189 ) that would have increased penalties for illegal slot machines, but it failed amid opposition from veterans’ groups who claimed it would have reduced donations to their charities. For our series on storefront casinos, reporter David Fleshler visited more than 20 operations and combed through public records, police reports and court filings for about 300 entities. Most are clustered in South Florida, but they are across the state, in dreary strip malls, abandoned convenience stores and other low-rent venues. Patrons click away at screens that offer “sweepstakes” or other labels for what appear to be video slots. Fleshler found some using traditional, if old, Vegas-style machines. Payouts also vary. According to online reviews, some offer gift cards or merchandise as prizes, a sinister step toward the fiction that these are just video games. But some don’t pay at all. Fleshler found patrons who said they were denied jackpots they thought they had won, or were told they would be paid in installments — yet another scam in a state notorious for them, while the Legislature looks the other way. Many players are seniors who say they were drawn in by the promise of company and hospitality. Most casinos offer free food and drinks — anything to keep people there, feeding the arcades’ bottom line. Fleshler talked to a woman who gave only her first name, Sybil, who said she had lost most of her savings. “I’ll tell you, the only ones winning are the owners,” she said. Yet she played on, hoping fortune would favor her — and that the people profiting from her patronage would pay out, as promised. This state must do more to protect Sybil and others, with more uniform enforcement of laws that stop storefront gambling and more help for those caught in the web of addiction. But it’s a good bet that won’t happen. The Sun Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Opinion Editor Steve Bousquet, Deputy Opinion Editor Dan Sweeney, editorial writers Pat Beall and Martin Dyckman and Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson. To contact us, email at letters@sun-sentinel.com . HOW TO GET HELP FOR A GAMBLING PROBLEM Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling 888-ADMIT-IT (888-236-4848) gamblinghelp.org National Problem Gambling Helpline 800-GAMBLER (800-426-2537)FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Rashad King's 19 points helped Northeastern defeat FGCU 59-55 on Saturday. King had eight rebounds for the Huskies (5-1). Masai Troutman shot 6 of 10 from the field, including 2 for 3 from 3-point range, and went 3 for 5 from the line to add 17 points. Harold Woods finished 4 of 13 from the field to finish with 11 points. The Eagles (1-5) were led in scoring by Dallion Johnson, who finished with 18 points. Rory Stewart added 13 points and eight rebounds for FGCU. Jevin Muniz also had seven points, seven rebounds and four assists. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Cici Cao China's robotic arm developer Shenzhen Dobot Corp debuts in Hong Kong today, after recording rises of nearly 9 percent in the gray market over the weekend. The company once traded 14.4 percent higher than its offer price at HK$18.8 before closing 8.8 percent higher at HK$20.45 on Phillip Securities' platform, giving a paper gain of HK$330 on a board lot of 200 shares. On Futu Securities, the shares also closed 8.8 percent higher at HK$20.45. In other news, three initial public offerings will close the bookbuilding today, including Xunfei Healthcare Technology, InnoScience (Suzhou) Technology and HealthyWay. Amid cooled retail investors' enthusiasm compared to records made by Herbs Generation (2593) and Mao Geping (1318), artificial intelligence-empowered healthcare solution provider Xunfei Healthcare Technology took orders worth HK$30.71 million in margin loans, 52 percent of its HK$58.26 million target. Digital healthcare service platform HealthyWay received HK$15.16 million in margin financing compared to the HK$22 million it aimed to raise, while semiconductor producer InnoScience Technology's retail tranche was just 0.4 times subscribed over with HK$210 million. Separately, Chinese energy storage company Xiamen Hithium Energy Storage Technology is considering a listing in the city as soon as next year, aiming to raise US$500 million (HK$3.9 billion), according to Bloomberg. Notably, Hithium's founder Wu Zuyu was a former mid-level employee of Chinese battery manufacturer CATL. Wu and his team - with some members from CATL - founded Hithium after leaving CATL in 2019. Also, China's Green Tea restaurant chain has submitted its fifth Hong Kong listing application to the local bourse. The former applications between 2021 and the first half of 2024 have all lapsed.
By MICHELLE L. PRICE NEW YORK (AP) — Chad Chronister, Donald Trump’s pick to run the Drug Enforcement Administration, said Tuesday he was withdrawing his name from consideration, becoming the second person selected by the president-elect to bow out quickly after being nominated for a position requiring Senate confirmation. Sheriff Chronister, the top law enforcement officer in Hillsborough County, Florida, said in a post on X that he was backing away from the opportunity, which he called “the honor of a lifetime.” “Over the past several days, as the gravity of this very important responsibility set in, I’ve concluded that I must respectfully withdraw from consideration,” Chronister wrote. He did not elaborate, and Trump’s transition team did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. Chronister follows former Republican congressman Matt Gaetz , Trump’s first pick to serve as attorney general, in withdrawing his name for a post in the administration. Gaetz withdrew following scrutiny over a federal sex trafficking investigation that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nation’s chief federal law enforcement officer. Trump’s pick of Chronister for the DEA job drew backlash from conservatives, who raised concerns over his actions during the COVID-19 pandemic and his saying that his office “does not engage in federal immigration enforcement activities.” In March 2020, Chronister arrested the pastor of a megachurch who held services with hundreds of people and violated a safer-at-home order in place aimed at limiting the spread of the Covid virus. “Shame on this pastor, their legal staff and the leaders of this staff for forcing us to do our job. That’s not what we wanted to do during a declared state of emergency,” Chronister said at the time. “We are hopeful that this will be a wakeup call.” U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky, was among those airing public complaints, saying Chronister should be “disqualified” for the arrest. Others flagged comments Chronister made in a video about Florida’s immigration laws that he released in 2023 that circulated again online after Trump named him last weekend. Related Articles National Politics | Trump team signs agreement to allow Justice to conduct background checks on nominees, staff National Politics | President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urge judge to toss his hush money conviction National Politics | Democrats stick with Schumer as leader, their strategy for countering Trump is far less certain National Politics | Trump vows to block Japanese steelmaker from buying US Steel, pledges tax incentives and tariffs National Politics | Democrats’ outgoing chair says Trump’s win forces party to reassess how it reaches voters In the video, Chronister praised the “rich diversity” of his community and called it “a place where people from all walks of life come together.” He said it was important to note his office “does not engage in federal immigration enforcement activities. We do not target individuals based on their immigration status. That’s the authority of federal agencies.” Trump has made a sweeping crackdown on immigration a central focus of his campaign and his aims for his coming administration. Associated Press writer Adriana Gomez Licon in Fort Lauderdale, Florida contributed to this report.
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Cheers and beers for Ruud van Nistelrooy as Leicester reign starts with winThe Indiana vs. Notre Dame matchup in the first round of the College Football Playoff is the most expensive ticket on StubHub, but it's Tennessee vs. Ohio State that's selling the fastest. StubHub spokesperson Adam Budelli said Monday that the game being hosted in Columbus, Ohio, on Dec. 21 has sold 34% more tickets than the game in South Bend, Indiana, on Dec. 20. “The expanded college football playoffs are seeing early high demand, especially as we see new teams enter the competition for the first time,” Budelli said. StubHub lists tickets for sale from official event organizers, but most of its offerings are from the resale market. Here's the ticket marketplace's average CFP first-round prices as of Monday evening: 1. Indiana at Notre Dame — $733 2. Clemson at Texas — $518 3. Tennessee at Ohio State — $413 4. SMU at Penn State — $271 Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
Germany pledges security inquest into Christmas market attackDartmouth sorority, two members of fraternity face charges after student who attended party drowned HANOVER, N.H. (AP) — A sorority at Dartmouth College and two members of a fraternity faces charges related to the death of a student who drowned after attending an off-campus party. The Hanover, New Hampshire police department, where Dartmouth is located, said Friday that Alpha Phi was charged with one count of facilitating an underage alcohol house. Two members of the Beta Alpha Omega face a charge of providing alcohol to a person under 21. Won Jang, 20, of Middletown, Delaware, had attended an off-campus party in July hosted by Alpha Phi sorority. Police said the alcohol was provided by Beta Alpha Omega. Tens of thousands of Spaniards protest housing crunch and high rents in Barcelona BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Tens of thousands of Spaniards are marching in downtown Barcelona to protest the skyrocketing cost of renting an apartment in the popular tourist destination. Protesters cut off traffic on main avenues in the city center, holding up homemade signs in Spanish reading “Fewer apartments for investing and more homes for living." The lack of affordable housing has become one of the leading concerns for the southern European Union country, mirroring the housing crunch across many parts of the world, including the United States. The average rent for Spain has doubled in the last decade. In cities like Barcelona, rental prices have also been driven up by short-term renters including tourists. Jason Kelce's wife announces she is pregnant with the couple's fourth child Former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce's wife is announcing she's pregnant with the couple's fourth child. Kylie Kelce posted a photo on Instagram on Friday of the couple's three young daughters reacting to the news. The oldest daughter, Wyatt, appears to be cupping her head in shock. The middle daughter, Ellioette, is smiling. The youngest, Bennett, is in tears. A caption attached to the photo reads: “I feel like we captured a very accurate representation of how each of the girls feel about getting another sister. At least Ellie, mom and dad are on the same page!” Israeli-Moldovan rabbi living in UAE is missing. Israeli officials fear he may have been kidnapped DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An Israeli-Moldovan rabbi living in the United Arab Emirates has gone missing, with Israeli authorities raising the suspicion he may have been kidnapped as tensions remain high with Iran. The Israeli prime minister’s office said that Zvi Kogan has been missing since noon Thursday. It said that against the backdrop of information that this was a terrorist incident, an extensive investigation has been opened in the country. Emirati officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday. State-run media in the UAE, an autocratic federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula and home to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, did not immediately report the incident. Alyssa Nakken, first full-time female coach in MLB history, leaving Giants to join Guardians CLEVELAND (AP) — Alyssa Nakken, the first woman to coach in an MLB game, is leaving the San Francisco Giants to join the Cleveland Guardians. Nakken made history in 2022 when she took over as first-base coach following an ejection. A former college softball star at Sacramento State, Nakken joined the Giants in 2014 and was promoted to a spot on manager Gabe Kapler’s staff in 2020, becoming the majors’ first full-time female coach. Nakken has been hired as an assistant director within player development for the Guardians, who won the AL Central last season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt. Nakken, 34, will work with former Giants coaches Craig Albernaz and Kai Correa. Officer kills pet dog mistaken for a coyote in Massachusetts town. The owner says it was unnecessary An animal control officer shot and killed a pet dog in a Massachusetts town after mistaking it for a coyote in an incident local police are describing as a sad mix-up. Police in Northbridge, Massachusetts, say the shooting happened on Tuesday after police received a call of a report of a coyote in a residential backyard. Police say the animal control officer went into the woods to look for the coyote and found what they thought was the animal in a threatening position and shot it. The incident happened as communities around Massachusetts and the country have dealt with an uptick in interactions between coyotes and people. Kendrick Lamar surprises with new album 'GNX' LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Lamar gave music listeners an early holiday present with a new album. The Grammy winner released his sixth studio album “GNX” on Friday. The 12-track project is the rapper’s first release since 2022’s “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” Lamar’s new album comes just months after his rap battle with Drake. The rap megastar will headline February's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The 37-year-old has experienced massive success since his debut album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012. Since then, he’s accumulated 17 Grammy wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Ancient meets modern as a new subway in Greece showcases archaeological treasures THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, is opening a new subway system, blending ancient archaeological treasures with modern transit technology like driverless trains and platform screen doors. The project, which began in 2003, uncovered over 300,000 artifacts, including a Roman-era thoroughfare and Byzantine relics, many of which are now displayed in its 13 stations. Despite delays caused by preserving these findings, the inaugural line has been completed, with a second line set to open next year. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict.HDK promises to pursue demand for IIT in Mandya
Article content MEXICO CITY — Mexico has been taking a bashing lately for allegedly serving as a conduit for Chinese parts and products into North America, and officials here are afraid a re-elected Donald Trump or politically struggling Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau could try to leave their country out of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement. Recommended Videos Mexico’s ruling Morena party is so afraid of losing the trade deal that President Claudia Sheinbaum said Friday the government has gone on a campaign to get companies to replace Chinese parts with locally made ones. “We have a plan with the aim of substituting these imports that come from China, and producing the majority of them in Mexico, either with Mexican companies or primarily North American companies,” Sheinbaum said. While Sheinbaum claimed Mexico had been working on that effort since t he 2021 global supply chain crisis — when factories around the world were stalled by a lack of parts and particularly computer chips from Asia — it appears to be an uphill battle. Even the United States has faced big challenges in moving chip production back home despite billions in subsidies and incentives. Mexico gained tens of thousands of jobs when U.S. and foreign automakers moved their plants to Mexico under the free trade pact to take advantage of much lower wages. But the idea that Chinese parts _ or even whole cars — could be piggybacking on that arrangement to further hollow out the U.S. auto industry has enraged some people north of the border. So Mexico is scrambling with private companies to get them to move parts production here. “Next year, God willing, we are going to start making microchips in Mexico,” Mexican Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said on Thursday. “Of course they’re not yet the most advanced chips, but we are going to start producing them here.” Mexico’s nationalistic ruling party, which is normally very resistant to being seen as bending to U.S. demands, is scrambling in other ways, too. The ruling party is in the process of eliminating a half-dozen independent regulatory and oversight agencies that were established by former presidents. That includes the anti-monopoly, transparency and energy regulatory bodies. Together with reforms that will make all judges stand for election in Mexico, that has sparked concern in the U.S. and Canada. Countries are required under the agreement to have some independent agencies, in part to protect foreign investors. For example, they could prevent a government from approving a monopoly for a state-owned company that could force competitors out of the market. So ruling-party legislators are actually re-writing the proposed laws to exactly mimic the minimum accepted requirements under the trade accord. “What is being done is to create a reform so that its almost exactly equal to what exists in the United States, so we can clear that up,” Ebrard said. It’s all part of a very legalistic defence of the trade accord, signed in 2018 and approved in 2019. Mexico hopes the rules of the agreement would prevent the U.S. or Canada from simply walking away when the trade pact comes up for review in 2026. Experts agree, saying that totally abandoning the accord is unlikely. Gabriela Siller, director of economic analysis of the financial group Banco Base notes that if a country is dissatisfied with the trade agreement during the periodic reviews, like in 2026, there is a clause in the pact that says they can ask for a review each year to work out a solution, and keep doing that for a decade while the agreement remains in force. “That is, they wouldn’t be able to get out until 2036,” Siller said. “I think they will play hardball with Mexico in the 2026 review.” Like any marriage, when the pact no longer works for one party, it may still drag on for years but it’s death by a thousand cuts. C.J. Mahoney. who served as deputy U.S. trade representative in Trump’s first administration, said in a talk for the Texas-based Baker Institute in September that the United States probably wouldn’t end the trade agreement. But with growingly vocal critics of the pact it could hold up renewing it for years. “The costs of not renewing immediately are actually quite relatively low,” Mahoney said. “I think the inclination to just kick the can down the road will be pretty strong.” Because many companies won’t make big investments in production facilities without certainty, that could be a serious if not fatal blow to the pact. How much does Mexico actually buy from China? Mexican officials say they have fewer imports of Chinese parts and products than the United States does. But given the enormous size difference between the two countries’ economies, it is a true but weak argument. In July, the U.S. imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum shipped from Mexico that were made elsewhere, in an attempt to stop China from avoiding import taxes by routing goods through Mexico. It includes a 25% tariff on steel not melted or poured in Mexico and a 10% tariff on aluminum. Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat, has called for stopping Mexican steel imports, saying “the alarming rise in Chinese steel and aluminum coming into the country through Mexico ... is unsustainable and a threat to American jobs, as well as our economy and national security.” In the end, Mexico may be forced to crack down on Chinese imports, but it won’t be easy. “Reducing the dependence on Chinese imports is not going to be achieved in the short or medium term,” said Jose Maria Ramos, a professor of public administration at the Colegio de la Frontera Norte in Tijuana.