"But if the U.S. demand is conceded by the president, then everyone will fall in line."
U.S. demand for travertine is about 0.85 million tons per year, almost all of it imported.
The project could produce enough copper equal to 25% of the current U.S. demand.
The U.S. demand is described by its critics as a breach of international law.
The game was, for a time, unavailable in Europe as production tried to cope with US demand.
Then Saddam would seem to give in to U.S. demands.
"The U.S. demands strike at the heart of the treaty."
But, the Asian countries have a vested economic interest in keeping US demand for their exports high.
China's leaders don't want to be seen as making unilateral concessions to U.S. demands.
The Japanese have made numerous concessions to U.S. demands in the past year.