US penalizes Chinese tires, infuriating Beijing - Yahoo! News
This is really bad policy considering China owns a ton of our debt and they are about to introduce some low cost econo cars to the U.S. either this year or early next.
All this crap does is penalize low income people in favor of union interests by raising costs on car and tires.
I believe your thoughts on the future effects of creating a more level playing field for US workers and manufacturing to be a little alarmist, and slightly off base.
For some years now there seems to have been some propaganda spreading within our country about how our people and companies can not produce an affordable and quality product, and that is not only wrong and inaccurate but also has fueled a growing problem where our workers are losing in every way due to competing directly with third world nation and other workers who do not enjoy nearly the quality of life that American workers did previously.
It does not seem to matter if the product is autos, textiles, machine tools, heavy equipment, or any other product type, and the point of origin (country) could be any that the labor rate and quality of life is so much lower than that enjoyed in America. It is not just China as previously stated in this thread, and it is also not just tires (though rubber products are a large problem).
What many seem to miss and especially those who cry protectionist etc is that while the exploitation and even slavery of workers in third world nations has produced reduced costs, lower prices and largely increased corporate profits (have to wonder if the threats to these profits is not why there is so much opposition to stopping the dumping of products and foreign government subsidized manufacturing and products) while completely changing the face of America from the loss of manufacturing, shutting down of entire communities, reduced wages, lost wages, and right on down the quality of life for many Americans.
Maybe because my career is deeply rooted in industrial production I have been able to witness things others may not have etc, and this includes not only countless plant shut downs and job losses, but also various different tariffs that are applied to products beyond the normal duties placed on imports.
Dumping duties as they are called have been in place for many years, and though like most things that happen in Washington are a result of lobby efforts etc the purpose is to create a level playing field where an obvious imbalance existed where/from foreign manufacturers and even countries were dumping their products at insanely low prices only to destroy the American companies and competition so that there could be a turn to profitability in the future after there was no US based competition.
Should there not be the same level playing field when US corporation have joined with these foreign interests (manufacturers and governments alike) to increase their profits? Should we sit back and just say things are OK when there are companies like GE, Dewalt, Westinghouse, ATT, and so many others of small and large size that are profiting off the backs of foreign labor while devastating domestic manufacturing and the American worker?
Though I agree with many of the concerns of conservative beliefs this is one area that I can not. Who in their right mind could ignore the changes in the landscape of our own country just to support continued increased imports and the export of the wealth of our country?
Things seem to have some potential for a healthy correction, and considering that at one point our military could not even source the products and parts needed to keep its equipment running from domestic manufacturers (US or foreign owned) including nuclear class subs the government is aware of the depth of the problem, and maybe these current changes in trade with China are an indication that some are aware and willing to address things even if on a small scale.
It would seem obvious that there is no need to close down imports completely, and I do believe even the most hardcore true protectionist would agree this would not be healthy, but it would also seem most would agree that there is a problem that needs to be addressed and that stopping the destruction of domestic manufacturing by creating a level playing field for all is not such a bad idea.