This isn't much better than capitulation. Going back on your counter-move just to a promise to have a "talk", that's the same stuff that Putin's been trying with Ukraine: Pull back your troops from Russian occupied territory, and Russia will promise to talk.

Ford's given them exactly what they want just for the sake of having a face-to-face. What he should've done would be to say that he was willing to put withdrawing the surcharge on the table as an initial proposal on his side of the talks.

I don't care that we can just put up the surcharge again, Ford just showed the US that he's got a weak spine and can be bullied into withdrawing all measures at the slightest sign of agreement. Not even a promise of an agreement.