Made in China

[neillyperrfekt]

Many people in N America do not like to buy Products from 'poor' countries because they are very sure that the people manufacturing these products are paid and treated unfairly.

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Unfortunately, the empirical evidence suggests otherwise.

You only need to visit the closest government website to find evidence on the latest trade balance with China. The last time I checked, it was over $200 billion USD for the year ended 2005.

http://www.senate.gov/~schumer/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/press_releases/2006/PR57.Trade%20Deficit.020606.html

If it hadn't been for the re-imposition of tariffs on chinese made clothing by the American, European and the Chinese (yup - true), the trade deficit with China would have been much higher.

Despite the revaluation of the Yuan and other political pressure levied by various governments in Europe and North America towards the Chinese government, the trade deficit with China is increasing, not decreasing.

Fortunately for Australia, it is the other way around. We have ample supply of raw materials and energy to sell to them and prices of most these commodities have double in the last year.

Every day, more and more multi-national companies are setting up factories in China - the profits to be derived are just astronomical - just ask Nike.

In fact, I am wearing one of their latest footwear now which I recently paid about $260 Australian dollars (around 7800 baht) - the factory worker in China would be paid less than a dollar for it.

How much do you think "Nike" would have made even after taking into account of labour, overhead, design and marketing costs?

Have a look at their latest financials.

http://www.nike.com/nikebiz/nikebiz.jhtml?page=0

Well the lesson to learn is dont buy nike, I havent for 4 years. Im a big football fan, but I dont want something from a sweatshop. however, my opinion probably wont count with masses who wnat cheap consumables.

[pdiddy]

blah blah blah

Please note that I was not defending this position. I said that people werre pretty sure of this situation.

Thanks for reading my post before a long winded rebuttal.

[Cosmo]

blah blah blah

Please note that I was not defending this position. I said that people werre pretty sure of this situation.

Thanks for reading my post before a long winded rebuttal.

A bit overwhelming ?

:shock:

[luca]

Apart that nowadays everything is made in China, but some expensive cars (give them few months) there are many reasons to don't buy stuff from some countries: it could be because of the low quality of the products or for political reasons. As for me, I try to don't buy from countries which does not respect the worker's rights and especially the children's rights, but of course you cannot always check everything you buy. i bought a new laptop last month, it's HP one, which I guess is a western brand. Well it's made in China, its bag is made in China, its notes are made in China...I realized we don't product anything anymore in Italy but some useless D&G panties :? Anyway welcome to the fake clothes, even if girls wouldnt agree! I bought some very good jeans in BKK for 150B eheh!

[pdiddy]

Luca makes a good point: China makes no excuses for human rights violtaions, civil liberties violations, oppression, environmental damage and other atrocities.

This is one reason that i disagree with sending money to China.

[luca]

yeah diddy it's a good point but the problem is...which country respects for real the human rights? Of course something bad is happening in China despite their growing economy but there's also some western countries that just hide what's wrong in a better way...mine included!

[zeusbheld]

yeah diddy it's a good point but the problem is...which country respects for real the human rights? Of course something bad is happening in China despite their growing economy but there's also some western countries that just hide what's wrong in a better way...mine included!

therein lies the real point re: sending money to china.

i would go so far as to say pretty much all western countries--all countries even--have their dirty little fingers in some illicit pie or another.

[zeusbheld]

yeah diddy it's a good point but the problem is...which country respects for real the human rights? Of course something bad is happening in China despite their growing economy but there's also some western countries that just hide what's wrong in a better way...mine included!

really good point.

as far as china disrespecting human rights: having been there, and having a few dozen chinese friends, in my opinion the average chinese person's rights aren't disrespected any more than anyone else's, anywhere (although the average chinese journalist is entirely another story and has a fairly slim portfolio of rights).

if you can think of a country that respects the rights of political prisoners, let us know. i cannot think of a single one.

the government of china causes a lot of problems but it's hardly the bug-eyed monster people are fond of making it out to be, unless you are willing to accept that most western governments are bug eyed monsters too, and the ones that aren't? it's only because they're weak and powerless, not because they're better.

although perhaps i'm too cynical, do cheer me up and post examples of governments with integrity who respect human rights, even those of political prisoners...