I think this is a very strange development. I'm a bit surprised they would backtrack at all.

Rather in the past they've agreed to various regulations and laws and ... just not enacted or simply enacted and not followed them. That last part being the real question in all these details, does it matter if a deal gets made anyway?

If anything the traditional route would have allowed the POTUS to declare victory and everyone just move on, but this is far more confrontational and unusual based on my understanding.