Lame duck blues.

• Position: OFF THE NEWS - Brief article

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U.S. officials whose job it is to negotiate with the Chinese on financial issues have noticed a toughening of Beijing's attitude toward the issue of currency reform. Even as late as six to eight months ago, the Chinese approached negotiations with their American counterparts with a great deal of trepidation. Not any more. U.S. officials have noticed that there is a "quiet arrogance" emerging on the part of the Chinese that they need not concede anything on the currency front to the lame-duck Bush Administration. Indeed, some international China watchers suggest the next administration will fare better in its negotiations with Beijing.

Maybe not. New French President Nicolas Sarkozy...