You decide to set import quotas on Chinese textiles. Unfortuntately, your timing could not be worse. Your Secretary of State is currently involved in talks at the annual summit meeting of the Asia Pacific Cooperation (APEC) forum and the announcement of the quotas sends the meeting into chaos. The 25 participating goverments were set to sign a landmark access agreement to the International Internet system as well setting regulations to the CNN world cable system, in an effort to bring down the rates of the sole cable operator in the world.

Most of the Pacific Rim countries, including Korea, Hong Kong and the kingdom of Idonesia, walk out of the talk and threaten to renounce all trade agreements with the Western alliance. The Chinese ambassador in Washington, D.C. cables you to inform you that China will not pay heed to the weak economic threats of American. He decides to give you 24 hours to reconsider. Meanwhile, activity continues along the China-Taiwan border. This could be a ploy by the Chinese and you realize you have found yourself in a high stakes cat-and-mouse game.

You still have options open. Your Secretary of State tells you there are still diplomatic channels open. Meanwhile, Sen. Rush Limbaugh is in his second day of a filibuster calling for military action. The former talk show host has aligned himself with the Christian Coalition minority in the Senate and has intermixed calls to God with calls for the impeachment of the "Queen Bee." Pressure for military involvement is building.

You can also step up the economic pressure and impose across-the-board tariffs. Hopefully, this will show China you are serious and will lead to a reduction in tensions.

You know time is a luxury. You decide to . . .

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go ahead with the tariffs
pursue diplomatic negotiations
you listen to Rush and the hawks in congress

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