But more importantly, said congressional and industry leaders who have been pushing for the action, it will signal a more assertive posture for the United States in its trade relations and at the same time stave off legislative action to make such retaliatory measures mandatory in cases of flagrant and repeated violations of U.S. trade laws.
A Japanese submarine participated in war games in the crucial waters and is now visiting Vietnam, signaling a more assertive pushback against China.
More sophisticated analysis of the language of customer interactions suggests that once they've shown they're listening, front-line employees should quickly shift gears towards language that signals a more assertive, "take charge" attitude.
Signaling a more assertive approach on homelessness, five Los Angeles City Council members introduced a measure Wednesday aimed at developing a comprehensive plan for getting 23,000 transients off the streets and into housing.
China experts said on Tuesday that Beijing's assertive stance on rare earths might also signal the ascendance of economic nationalists, noting that the Central Committee of the Communist Party convened over the weekend.
The SFO's assertive role in prosecuting Rolls-Royce could also signal that it eventually plans to go after Unaoil, Spalding added.
One was shown in a relaxed pose, with arms at sides and a pleasant facial expression; the other looked assertive, with one foot forward, one hand raised to signal "halt," and the other on the butt of a firearm.
A rise in isolationism has signaled a diminished public appetite for the assertive national security policy of the Bush years and, in general, a less internationalist outlook.
Word that the Murdochs had shifted course came as one of several other moves by the News Corporation on Thursday that signaled the company was adopting a more assertive strategy to deflect the condemnation being hurled its way.
At a time when the U.S. and other traditional economic powers are weakening, China is flexing its muscles, signaling it will seek a much more assertive role in shaping the future of the world financial order.
The quicker action here could signal that federal officials now want to appear more assertive in containing accounting irregularities like those at WorldCom, according to William J. Rochelle III, a bankruptcy expert at the law firm of Fulbright & Jaworski in New York.
