Partly, his concern was with the overall progress of the struggle.
The year's overall progress may deserve little better than a C+.
The administration's demand requires that only significant "overall" progress be made on five other conditions.
While companies that solve these problems may eventually make good investments, overall progress could be slow.
Throughout the year, staff members monitor the players' grades and their overall progress.
During the 1980's, the overall progress of women at private law firms has been slow, but dramatic gains have come in the last two years.
But they differed on the nature and significance of overall progress to date.
"That's the real change now," he said of the overall progress in talks.
"One risk is the overall progress of technical advance starts to slow down."
Still, the overall progress at last appears to offer a glimmer of hope on the export front.