Geithner signals tougher stance on China

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I sure hope more companies will start using the "China-free" label.

Or a more radical approach....Made in the USA.

I don't mind if it's made in France - France is not a threat to us.

We need to demonize China and squeeze the bastards out of our markets.

...not to mention - France practices fairer labor laws and tighter environmental safety standards.

Very good point. China's environmental track record is abysmal.

The whole selling point of globalization is that with free and open trade, all participating countries would benefit. What fair trade proponents have been arguing is that everyone has to be playing on level playing field.

[mawilson 2,133]

The whole selling point of globalization is that with free and open trade, all participating countries would benefit. What fair trade proponents have been arguing is that everyone has to be playing on level playing field.

Well you know I'm against free and open trade. Right now it benefits China more than it does us -

the growing U.S. trade deficit with China is deeply troubling.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The whole selling point of globalization is that with free and open trade, all participating countries would benefit. What fair trade proponents have been arguing is that everyone has to be playing on level playing field.

Well you know I'm against free and open trade. Right now it benefits China more than it does us -

the growing U.S. trade deficit with China is deeply troubling.

It's an example that cheap labor doesn't come cheap in the long run.

[mawilson 2,133]

The whole selling point of globalization is that with free and open trade, all participating countries would benefit. What fair trade proponents have been arguing is that everyone has to be playing on level playing field.

Well you know I'm against free and open trade. Right now it benefits China more than it does us -

the growing U.S. trade deficit with China is deeply troubling.

It's an example that cheap labor doesn't come cheap in the long run.

I agree.

[mRx 16]

But American manufacturers say that the Chinese yuan is still significantly undervalued, making Chinese goods cheaper for U.S. consumers.

I don't get it. How are cheaper goods for American consumers harmful to us? We should be happy about receiving low-priced, high quality goods.

If the Yuan is genuinely undervalued, and for the purpose of stimulating exportation, then it is only hurting the Chinese, as they would be doing so at a loss.

So again, I don't see the problem. All this "fair playing field", protectionism, and China-hatin' is a bunch of #######.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

US trade war with China?

WASHINGTON - US PRESIDENT Barack Obama has set the stage for a possible trade war with China by branding the Asian giant a currency manipulator, a term his predecessor George W. Bush had skillfully avoided despite pressure from lawmakers.

this may well be a good time to sell wal-mart stock.

What? No pics of made in China condoms?

The US can fight back with these:

[lostinblue 1,989]

Many people seem to be hard on Wallmart. If you are poor it is one of the best stores you can find. Wallmart fills a need for a certain segment of the population . $15 jeans VS $100 jeans in a national brand store. Are you willing to sacrifice your lifestyle by getting china pissed off at you. They are our banker now and will be years in the future. The trillion odd dollars obama needs is made in CHINA. Get China pissed off and you will see inflation like you have never seen in this country.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

But American manufacturers say that the Chinese yuan is still significantly undervalued, making Chinese goods cheaper for U.S. consumers.

I don't get it. How are cheaper goods for American consumers harmful to us? We should be happy about receiving low-priced, high quality goods.

If the Yuan is genuinely undervalued, and for the purpose of stimulating exportation, then it is only hurting the Chinese, as they would be doing so at a loss.

So again, I don't see the problem. All this "fair playing field", protectionism, and China-hatin' is a bunch of #######.

A good place to start...audio interview:

China's investment in the global economy is huge — especially its investment in the United States. The U.S. trade deficit with China increases by $1 billion a day, and that has some people concerned. In the current issue of Atlantic Monthly magazine, correspondent James Fallows calls it "The $1.4 Trillion Question." Fallows talks with Robert Siegel about China's economy, the U.S. reaction to it and how long China's policy can be sustained.

China's Trade Deficit: 'The $1.4 Trillion Question'

[Ban Hammer 13,643]

US trade war with China?

WASHINGTON - US PRESIDENT Barack Obama has set the stage for a possible trade war with China by branding the Asian giant a currency manipulator, a term his predecessor George W. Bush had skillfully avoided despite pressure from lawmakers.

this may well be a good time to sell wal-mart stock.

What? No pics of made in China condoms?

The US can fight back with these:

snag!

[Corinthians 7]

If the Yuan is genuinely undervalued, and for the purpose of stimulating exportation, then it is only hurting the Chinese, as they would be doing so at a loss.

It hurts us because prices for US goods sold in China are artificially high. Less sales of US merchandise = less jobs for the people that make or sell it it. More money flows out of the US to China this way.

[mRx 16]

But American manufacturers say that the Chinese yuan is still significantly undervalued, making Chinese goods cheaper for U.S. consumers.

I don't get it. How are cheaper goods for American consumers harmful to us? We should be happy about receiving low-priced, high quality goods.

If the Yuan is genuinely undervalued, and for the purpose of stimulating exportation, then it is only hurting the Chinese, as they would be doing so at a loss.

So again, I don't see the problem. All this "fair playing field", protectionism, and China-hatin' is a bunch of #######.

A good place to start...audio interview:

China's investment in the global economy is huge — especially its investment in the United States. The U.S. trade deficit with China increases by $1 billion a day, and that has some people concerned. In the current issue of Atlantic Monthly magazine, correspondent James Fallows calls it "The $1.4 Trillion Question." Fallows talks with Robert Siegel about China's economy, the U.S. reaction to it and how long China's policy can be sustained.

China's Trade Deficit: 'The $1.4 Trillion Question'

Steven, I read the whole article you referred to in The Atlantic, but I'm on a work PC, and can't do audio. It was an interesting read, though. Thanks. But it seemed to only explain the China-side of the trade, and what they were doing to their currency to stimulate exportation, but it fails to address the American Government side of the trade, and how our government equally stimulated importation, just as the Chinese did exportation.

But back to the topic, imposing economic sanctions will not hurt China. If heavy taxation or import quota limitations are imposed, then that will only raise the prices, which will then only hurt the American consumer.

If America wants to really fight this trade phenomenon with China that has arisen from failed government market coercion, then it should do so by ending inflation. This will put us into an immediate recession, cause our dollar to fall, wages to fall, and prices to fall. This will effectively put an end to the artificially high dollar that has aggravated the import market.

Same thing happened in the roaring 20's. Inflation artificially raised prices, stimulation importation, which led to a steady outflow of gold from the USA. Now we have no commodity-reflective currency, so the government's economic controllers should be applauding the Chinese for backing our doomed paper, not sanctioning them.

[mRx 16]

If the Yuan is genuinely undervalued, and for the purpose of stimulating exportation, then it is only hurting the Chinese, as they would be doing so at a loss.

It hurts us because prices for US goods sold in China are artificially high. Less sales of US merchandise = less jobs for the people that make or sell it it. More money flows out of the US to China this way.

Our prices are artificially high due to our inflationary monetary policies, which stimulated the imports to begin with. This led to the shift from us being a country that can create, to a country buried in debt.

If China is willing to undervalue their currency, and impoverish their people by robbing them of their deserved wealth, then they do so at their detriment, and such oppression cannot go on forever. Cheap, high quality goods are a good thing for Americans.