Puppet Masters
The duties had been set to go into effect on Sept. 1, so the announcement eased concerns about the holiday shopping season.
The USTR said the delay affects electronics including cellphones, laptops and video game consoles and some clothing products and shoes and "certain toys."

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (right) meets with Huthi movement spokesman, Mohammad Abdul Salam, in Tehran on August 13.
Speaking on state TV, Khamenei also urged for dialogue among Yemenis to quell the fighting that has killed tens of thousands, and which has brought the country to the brink of famine.
Khamenei accused Saudi Arabia of plotting to "divide Yemen," while saying a "unified and coherent Yemen with sovereign integrity should be endorsed."
Comment: It's notable that while the Saudi's, backed by the West and Israel, continue their devastating war on Yemen, the UAE is set to withdraw deeming it "Unwinnable".
See also: Magnier: War no longer an option for Israel after failures in Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Yemen

President Donald Trump speaks to the press on the South Lawn of the White House before departing Washington on Aug. 9, 2019.
"Basically what we're saying is we want an investigation. I want a full investigation. And that's what I absolutely am demanding. That's what our great attorney general is doing; he's doing a full investigation," Trump told reporters in Morristown, New Jersey.
Epstein was found unresponsive in his cell in the Special Housing Unit at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City at 6:30 a.m. on Aug. 10. The 66-year-old was recently denied bail while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Authorities said he had sexually abused and exploited dozens of girls, some of them as young as 14.
Thousands of documents relating to his alleged wrongdoing were unsealed just a day before he was found unresponsive.
Yes, that's right, some racist psycho murdered a bunch of people in Texas, so it's time to "take the gloves off" again, pass some new kind of Patriot Act, further curtail our civil liberties, and generally whip the public up into a mass hysteria over "white supremacist terrorism."
The New York Times Editorial Board is already hard at work on that front. In a lengthy op-ed that ran last Sunday, "We Have a White Nationalist Terrorist Problem," the Board proposes that we would all be safer if the government — but presumably not the current government — could arbitrarily deem people "terrorists," or "potential terrorists," or "terrorist sympathizers," regardless of whether they have any connection to any actual terrorist groups, and ... well, here's what the Editorial Board has in mind.
"The resources of the American government and its international allies would mobilize without delay. The awesome power of the state would work tirelessly to deny future terrorists access to weaponry, money and forums to spread their ideology. The movement would be infiltrated by spies and informants. Its financiers would face sanctions. Places of congregation would be surveilled. Those who gave aid or comfort to terrorists would be prosecuted."
"Accidents, unfortunately, happen. They are tragic," Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, said on Tuesday. "It is important for us to remember those heroes who lost their lives in this accident."
Experts from the Russian nuclear agency Rosatom explained the causes of the accident and gave all the relevant details, Peskov said. "I have nothing more to add to this."
Comment: It's difficult to believe they had so many specialists in close proximity to danger, assuming they were well aware of the risks - unless something happened that caught them completely by surprise.
US media and govt figures are certain that what is being tested at that site are the paradigm-breaking nuclear-powered cruise missiles, first announced to the world in Putin's March 1st 'state of the union' address last year. They could be bluffing, but they may be close to the mark.
This was likely the result of sabotage. It's all-systems-go in Russia these days to produce a target level of advanced missile capability, and according to a schedule. Anything to derail that potentially helps the Americans catch up.
Beijing has repeatedly warned the US to stop interfering with Taiwan and Hong Kong, or else face consequences, including the implicit threat of force.
Meanwhile, China confirmed that it denied the requests made by the US Navy.
Comment: China is well aware that troublemakers are receiving 'assistance' from the US: Cookies for everyone! Hong Kong 'revolution' leader photographed meeting US consulate official in Marriott Hotel
See also: Pepe Escobar: Hong Kong, Kashmir: A tale of two occupations
In this black and white universe, Russian President Vladimir Putin is either an omnipresent force, seamlessly controlling the workings of other nations with a horde of top-class hackers and spies by his side — or a man on the verge of defeat, who can't even manage to control the goings-on in Moscow, let alone anywhere else.
Well, which is it? They can't seem to make up their minds.
This choppy-changey phenomenon was recently highlighted in a series of tweets comparing various headlines pointing to Putin's alleged wins and losses.
According to a just published report in The Atlantic and a previous article by a former CIA officer, an Israeli-born individual is at the center of U.S. policies targeting Iran.
The Atlantic reports that financial sanctions are the "key tool" the United States has been using against Iran during "the past three presidential administrations." And Treasury official Sigal Mandelker" is the one with her hand on the lever." According to the article:
"Because Trump is anxious to avoid war with Iran but also eager to push the Iranians, she is one of the most powerful officials designing the strategy Trump's administration hopes will force Iranian capitulation — or, failing that, perhaps even the government's collapse."Mandelker has been working on governmental policies since 2006 - the year in which U.S. officials "focused on finding ways to cut off Iran from the global financial system."
Byrne claims the documents, which have not been made public and are currently under investigation by the DOJ, are allegedly communications he had with the FBI concerning both the Clinton investigation and the origins of the Russian investigation. SaraACarter.com did not review the documents, which are now under review by law enforcement.
He approached the DOJ and met with lawyers on April 5th and 30th. The first meeting was without counsel in Washington D.C. A source directly familiar with the interviews confirmed Byrne's account of the meetings.
DOJ officials said they could not comment on Byrne's allegations.
Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, may come under new scrutiny following suspected sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein's suicide, the Daily Mail claims, citing an unnamed legal source. According to the outlet, following the death of the prime suspect, an FBI probe could now focus their "full attention" on his suspected associate, British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, said to have also been friends with the British royal. The legal source, said to be close to the investigation noted:
"Ghislaine is the key to all this now that Epstein will no longer face justice himself. The victims deserve answers and she was the person closest to Epstein. Far from being the end to Prince Andrew's problems, Epstein's suicide could put him under renewed scrutiny because of his close friendship with Ghislaine"These claims echoed the statements by lawyer Jack Scarola, representing the alleged victims, who expressed hope that Epstein's "possible co-conspirators" would be investigated.
Comment: See also:
- Britain's Prince Andrews accused of having sex with underage girl - case makes its way to US court
- Prince Andrew dragged back into Jeffrey Epstein paedo scandal, Florida court will hear victims stories
- Jeffrey Epstein's journal made public, includes 97 pages of contact info for victims, celebs, UK, US, and Israeli politicians
- Prince Andrew sex case claim: Duke of York is named in underage 'sex slave' lawsuit over claims of forced sexual relations
- Prince Andrew accused of groping minor at Epstein Mansion - court docs













Comment: As the US economy falters many realize that they can't afford to lose anymore in the trade war, particularly during holiday season from which many retailers earn the largest portion of their income. It's clear from the obvious rise in stocks that the US' position is weak: