China Index
Posted by SCapozzola on June 18th, 2008As the Bush Administration concludes the fourth round of Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) talks with China, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) has released a “China Index.” Among the facts cited was the $27 billion in energy subsidies for Chinese steel producers first uncovered by AAM earlier this year in a report by Dr. Usha Haley.
Sen. Brown’s China Index is included below.
Regarding the outcome of this latest SED, AAM Director Scott Paul noted that the Bush Administration “squandered another opportunity to make U.S.-China trade more balanced and market-driven. On issues like currency misalignment, energy subsidies, and widespread dumping, another six months have passed without action. As a result, our monthly trade deficit with China is once again growing, more jobs are disappearing, and China continues to accumulate massive foreign currency reserves.”
CHINA INDEX
4 Number of Strategic Economic Dialogue sessions
5 Percent estimated trade deficit as a share of GDP (est.)
12 Age of workers subject to forced labor under “work and study programs,” according to a State Department report
25 Percentage estimate of California air pollution that comes from China, according to the EPA
35 Percent estimated subsidy on Chinese exports to the United States
50 Percent increase in Chinese steel production since 2006 because of government subsidies
57 Percent share of Chinese government-owned steel enterprises
79 Months since China joined the WTO
457 Number of recalled “Made in China” products by CPSC since the first SED
581,000 Decrease in American manufacturing jobs since December 2006
25 billion Increase in U.S. trade deficit with China since first SED
27 billion Amount of energy subsidies the Chinese government has provided the steel industry since 2000, undercutting competition
Relentless Term used in 2006 report by USTR to describe its efforts “to ensure China’s full implementation of specific WTO commitments…”
Rampant Term used in 2005 report by USTR to describe China’s counterfeit and piracy problems
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June 19th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
It’s summer and humidity is building up.
A working dehumidifier would be helpful.
Guess what?
All models I looked are made in China. You can read online all the stories about consumers stuck with a failed dehumidifier without recourse. Maytag’s supplier Fedders went into chapter 11. Their Chinese made dehumidifiers are no longer covered by the 5 year warranty. Many of them failed after 1 or 2 summers. It’s at Maytag’s mercy to provide possible service.
Then I read on consumersreports.org that the best buy is LG LHD45EL. The second is Kenmore 54501 for medium capacity.
Then you read on sears.com customers’ reviews. It’s all the same. Almost everyone is stuck with a failed Kenmore dehumidifier.
It’s no space technology to engineer a dehumidifier. The Chinese can make a good one if they want to. Why can’t they? LG is a Chinese brand, but Maytag and Kenmore are American brands.
The question is “Why can’t the Chinese make a working dehumidifier for American brand?”
Is it about market share war or is it about weak American manufacturing?
Will LG take over Kenmore, GE and Maytag in the world market?
Are our manufacturers so dumb to let go of our economic engine - manufacturing for good?
Well, the need is real. We need a working dehumidifier and I won’t buy an LG or Haier, another Chinese brand.
The optimized maximal profits strategy used by all global American companies are failing us and our economy.
Why can German still export German made products and we let it all outsourced to China? I may have to buy a German made dehumidifier this summer. Irresponsible manufacturing is detrimental to our environment and waste of energy. If we want to keep some American brands, we must manufacture products ourselves, even at a higher price. - a frustrated and angry consumer.
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:40 pm
This is just the tip of the iceberg. I’ve been looking for a dehumidifier also, and almost bought a Kenmore at Sears. After seeing Made in China I decided to check reviews. Sears has a Satisfaction Guarantee return policy that’s good for up to 30 days after purchase. But guess what, you have to pay a 15% restocking fee if it has been used. If you take it in under warranty, you pay $30 for them to decide if it’s covered under warranty. Companies like this, that want to import everything they sell, deserve to go belly-up. Just about everything I’ve seen that’s made in China, Korea, Taiwan, and don’t forget Mexico, is disposable. You still pay the same price as when the products were Made in the USA, but now you get junk that won’t last, American workers are losing jobs, and the retailers are making a killing. When are the corrupt politicians that are running this country going to wake up and do something to get this Country on the right track, instead of the Fast Track to disaster for our economy?