Still, he is many ways the very model of the American business executive.

And this increase, American executives say, would never have happened without the agreement.

For stock options are the drug of choice among American executives.

Even the definition of an American executive is getting more complicated these days.

But American executives say the trade agreement has been effective, so they want to see it continued.

"I've been in six countries and never had a post where the schools were targeted," one senior American executive said.

For some American executives, there is a personal incentive as well.

The American executives gave the trade agreement some credit for helping to open the market a little.

The question whether American executives and their families should follow this example is an issue for many corporations.

Whatever the case, American executives defend the practice with growing confidence.