The Magician’s Memorial - Chapter 447



Only Krnovel

447. An eye for an eye (2)

January 17, 2017.

The official inauguration ceremony of the 45th President of the United States was held.

Perhaps because of the rain, fewer people showed up for President Obama’s inauguration.

However, the atmosphere was by no means quiet, with protests taking place everywhere to make up for the lack of spectators.

[Trump, step down!]

[Racists, get out of America!]

I attended the inauguration while listening to anti-Trump protests.

As the inauguration ceremony began, the shouting died down considerably, as the protesters were quickly suppressed.

The inauguration ceremony began like that.

Typically, presidential inauguration speeches call for unity and reconciliation, but President Trump was different.

“I swore an oath of loyalty to all Americans. For decades, we have sacrificed American industry to enrich foreign industry! Sadly, our military has been depleted by supporting other countries.”

Everyone was shocked by Trump’s radical speech.

David, who was sitting next to me, was also surprised and whispered something to me.

“Is that okay? It’s more like a declaration of war than a presidential inauguration.”

“Everyone would say that. There were many worse things said during the presidential election.”

“But this is the first time I’ve seen a presidential inauguration speech like this. It’s clear that he doesn’t use Washington grammar, perhaps because he’s not a politician.”

Isn’t that Washington’s grammar?

Not only was it not the grammar of a politician, it was also very different from the grammar of ordinary people.

This is the grammar that only President Trump uses, and it is the reason why he was able to become president.

Trump’s speech isn’t over yet.

He began to make more and more harsh remarks.

“America has used its wealth and power to enrich other countries. Factories have closed, American workers have left the country, and our wealth has been redistributed to other countries.”

A declaration that we will no longer care about the economic development of other countries.

President Trump spoke with even more force in his voice.

“I am launching a new platform here! Listen up, all who are in power. From this day forward, a new vision will govern America. America First! We will put the interests of American workers and American families first!”

It’s finally out.

America first.

It was President Trump who officially announced the policy keynote of putting America first.

“We must protect America from the degrading actions of other countries who are stealing our products, stealing our companies, and destroying our jobs!”

It was a part that hinted at a trade dispute.

It was also a warning to countries that were using American patents without permission.

“Just two rules. Buy American, hire American. If you follow those rules, America can be great again!”

The inauguration speech, which was like a declaration of war, ended.

President Trump’s supporters cheered and even shed tears.

On the other hand, foreign dignitaries and businessmen looked worried and concerned about the change in US policy direction.

***

Two days after the inauguration ceremony.

I visited Washington at the official invitation of the U.S. government.

[American Shipping Conference]

That was the topic of the meeting I was invited to today.

It was an open meeting attended by many reporters, as well as people from the American shipping industry and the FMC.

Federal Maritime Commission (FMC).

They were the regulators of the American shipping industry.

It is an organization that monitors unfair trade practices such as regulations on shipping and freight collusion, and is like the grim reaper to global shipping companies.

“We will now begin a meeting for the American shipping industry.”

President Trump’s first agenda item was the shipping business.

Of course, President Trump’s number one agenda item was to repeal Obamacare.

It was the first time that the shipping business had held an official meeting.

The first meeting was bound to attract great interest.

It was a meeting where we could learn about the future policy direction of the Trump administration, and that is why many reporters attended the meeting.

“As I said in my inaugural address, I want to stop the flow of American wealth overseas. That’s how American shipping operates. Let’s ask FMC. How much of America’s imports and exports do you have?”

“We import the largest volume in the world, and our export volume is also ranked third in the world.”

“But why doesn’t the US have global shipping lines? Why does it leave all of its cargo to European or Chinese shipping lines?”

The United States was a country with huge shipping demands.

It was the United States that dominated the shipping market, wielding the weapon of the world’s largest cargo volume.

Therefore, even without owning a global shipping company, it was possible to control and manage foreign shipping companies.

From the shipping company’s perspective, it was clear that the United States was a customer that they absolutely could not afford to lose.

No matter how much cargo was transported on the Asian and European routes, it could not be compared to the cargo transported on the North American routes centered around the United States.

“We are continuously monitoring and supervising foreign shipping companies to ensure that they operate in a fair manner.”

“What I want is not a fair way, but a way that benefits America!”

President Trump repeated what he said in his inaugural speech.

He wanted a way to distribute wealth that would benefit America, not a fair distribution.

“We cannot act in violation of international agreements. If we regulate foreign shipping companies, other countries will regulate us.”

“Am I just suggesting regulation? Foreign shipping companies are making profits by forming cartels called shipping alliances. Because of this, small and medium-sized shipping companies cannot compete fairly. Isn’t that why American shipping companies are not growing?”

It was President Trump who tripped up the shipping alliance.

If there is unilateral regulation, it will be a problem, but if it is done under the pretext of eradicating cartels, the initiative will go to the United States.

Because the shipping alliance was being run unfairly.

In the case of the United States in particular, it was possible to raise this issue more confidently because it did not have a global shipping company.

“It is not against international conventions for foreign shipping companies to form shipping alliances.”

“Then, why don’t we also create a shipping alliance? American shipping companies or shipping companies investing in the United States can join forces to create a shipping alliance.”

President Trump got up from his seat.

He suddenly extended his hand towards me and continued speaking.

“Taewoo Shipping has decided to invest $5 billion in the U.S. shipping business. If U.S. shipping companies like Taewoo Shipping join forces, wouldn’t it be of great help to the national interest of the U.S.?”

It was a moment when I felt the value of my money.

$5 billion invested in presidential campaign contributions and shipping businesses.

It was by no means an amount that could be repaid with mere words, but it was certainly possible if the person speaking was the President of the United States.

“Why are you all just standing there? Let’s give a round of applause to the man who is making a big investment in America’s shipping industry.”

I got up from my seat without realizing it.

When President Trump began to applaud, the ministers and heads of agencies attending the meeting followed suit.

I heard that personal broadcasting is popular these days?

I used to wonder why people would support a broadcaster they weren’t particularly close with, but now I understand.

How can you not open your wallet when the President and the Minister react like this?

“Taewoo Shipping will continue to work hard to develop the U.S. shipping industry. We will join forces with small and medium-sized U.S. shipping companies and pay close attention to the redevelopment of underdeveloped ports and port infrastructure.”

“Chairman Kim is doing business in Korea, but he is also an honorary citizen of the United States. Shouldn’t we give more opportunities to people like Chairman Kim who work for the national interest of the United States?”

“I don’t want more opportunities. I just want to be given equal opportunities with the shipping companies of the shipping alliance.”

The moment you do not join a shipping alliance, you will be at a disadvantage.

But if the US had taken action, we could have run our shipping companies on at least an equal footing.

Rather, it could have been possible to receive US exports and imports in a slightly more advantageous position.

“Even the entrepreneurs who invested $5 billion just want equal opportunity. Do you see how broken the shipping industry is? That’s why I want to give more power to the FMC.”

“Can you tell what kind of strengthening of authority this is?”

FMC officials showed great interest.

Which head of an agency would hate to be given more authority?

“I will grant the authority to investigate shipping companies. It will not only allow them to manage and supervise, but also conduct investigations. In particular, I will grant them the authority to conduct intensive investigations of shipping companies that harm the national interests of the United States.”

“If we have investigative powers, we can run the FMC in a much fairer and more nationally beneficial way than we do now!”

Investigative powers of shipping companies.

This meant that FMC, who was already called the Grim Reaper, was given a new weapon.

If you were to get the wrong FMC, you would not be able to do shipping business in the United States, and there were no exceptions even for large shipping companies ranked in the top 10 in the world.

“Think only of the national interest. We must grow the American shipping industry together with partners like Taewoo Shipping that are helpful to the national interest of the United States!”

“I will work hard!”

It was a meeting open to the press.

All the comments made in the meeting were being broadcast live.

Global shipping companies must have heard President Trump’s declaration that he would foster the U.S. shipping industry and that Taewoo Shipping would be at the center of it.

***

After the meeting, I returned to the hotel.

David, who had been waiting at the hotel first, raised his thumb.

“There was a huge uproar. There was a lot of opposition to the Trump administration’s plan to start with Obamacare, but there is a lot of sympathy for the U.S. shipping industry. And Taewoo Shipping’s articles are also very positive.”

“It hasn’t even been an hour since the meeting ended, and I guess there are already reactions.”

“The meeting contents were being reported in real time as breaking news.”

How many Americans would oppose the growth of the American shipping industry?

In particular, since it was a policy that came out in the early days of the most powerful regime, the media also wrote good articles about it.

“How are American shipping companies reacting?”

“They say they are being flooded with calls from people wanting to join hands with Taewoo Shipping. And the stock prices of the companies we have secretly acquired are skyrocketing at the same time.”

We purchased small and medium-sized American shipping companies using fintech banks and AIZ.

Because the power of American shipping companies was needed to reorganize the new shipping alliance.

“We have to row when the tide comes in. Spread the word that the American shipping companies we acquired and Taewoo Shipping are joining hands to form a shipping alliance.”

“Good timing! The existing shipping alliances will be really scared.”

A new shipping alliance backed by the U.S. government.

It was a huge blow to existing shipping alliances that could not afford to give up North American routes.

They too have been forced to either invest a large sum of money in the United States or join hands with us.

“Now the positions have changed. Previously, Taewoo Shipping reached out to us, but now the existing global shipping companies will have to reach out to us.”

“There is already a shipping company that has reached out to us. Maersk, the world’s number one shipping company, has contacted us and said they would like to meet and talk with you, Chairman.”

It wasn’t for nothing that it became the world’s number one shipping company.

Musk must have become the number one shipping company because he read the air currents and acted faster than anyone else.

The great Musk was reaching out to us.