Five Years After Getting Favorable Trade Status, China Hasn’t Changed

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2006/11/27/five-years-after-getting-favorable-trade-status-china-hasn%e2%80%99t-changed/

Five Years After Getting Favorable Trade Status, China Hasn’t Changed

by James Parks, Nov 27, 2006

Five years ago, when Congress granted permanent normal trade relations to China, a prerequisite to that country joining the World Trade Organization (WTO), supporters claimed China would, among other things, adhere to the rules of the global trading system. They also said China would open its markets to America’s exporters, investors, businesses and farmers and become a member of the community of nations that promotes democratic government, human dignity, peace and stability in the world.

They were wrong. A new report shows that China continues its massive subsidies to its own industries and still oppresses millions of its citizens. The 2006 annual report of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (a bipartisan, congressionally appointed commission) released last week also provides evidence that China has been seriously inconsistent in meeting its obligations as a member of the WTO. The report backs up conclusions in the AFL-CIO’s Bush administration report card on China and a Solidarity Center study on workers’ rights in China.

United Steelworkers (USW) President Leo Gerard says “anywhere you look, by almost any measure, the U.S.-China relationship is moving in the wrong direction.”

And there is no better evidence than at Goodyear, where 15,000 of our members have been forced out on strike by a company that has announced it plans to increase its tire imports ten-fold from Communist China, where workers are routinely oppressed.

Our manufacturers here at home are finding it harder and harder to compete against an economic system in China that is built on oppressed workers, subsidized inputs and capital, stolen intellectual property and other unfair advantages.

China also continues to violate the human rights of its workers. Says George Becker, retired USW president and a member of the Commission:


More at link:



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[sendero]

1. Surprise..

... not.

Our business and political leaders (Bill Clinton included) have been selling out the poor and middle class in this country in the name of "free trade". China is a one-sided trading partner and they ALWAYS WILL BE.

[MannyGoldstein]

2. Bush, Clinton, and Bush Threw The Middle Class Under The Bus

Face it - the Bushs and the Clintons don't much like the Middle Class. They see us only as a source of more cash to satisfy their unquenchable lust for power and money.

[papau]

4. Clinton bought Rubin who bought the then econ consensus that free trade was good

With former free trade Guru's like the famed Paul A. Samuelson of MIT now coming out against totally free trade because it screws the American worker, I am sure the current Dem response - but any serious Dem not purchased by corporate America - will be "Fair trade - not free trade" - along with a demand that the independent but really corporate controlled "WTO" stop with the demand for "pure free trade" and instead demand worker workplace, minimum wage, human rights, ego rights fair trade agreements.

In today's academic world, Clinton would have gotten different advice and I am sure he would have acted on that different advice,

Of course, if Hillary does not come out against free trade and become loudly for fair trade, I will revise my opinion of the whole family! :-)

[MannyGoldstein]

6. "They" Should Have -- or Did - Known Better

Even setting aside the fact that countries like China don't really have laws: How could opening "free" trade with a country where workers are paid $2 a day do anything other than what it's done?

[papau]

8. There was a theory that exchange rates or Chinese inflation would fix the

problem.

those two things will eventually happen, but timing is bad and even then it is now seen as not a total fix.

[ixion]

3. hmmmm... but the US is doing everything that it claims China is doing

oppressing it citizens: CHECK.

oppressed workers, subsidized inputs and capital, stolen intellectual property and other unfair advantages: CHECK.


violate the human rights of its workers: CHECK.


NOT promoting democratic government, human dignity, peace and stability in the world: CHECK.


Gee, how very typical of us. :eyes:

[papau]

5. When you put it that way :-( - - - but MCA oppressing it citizens might get reversed

by a Court, and heck the Patriot Act might get revised.

I can only hope.

On the other items, I'll have to check with the media and the GOP (or are they the same -officially - these days?) for rebuttal points because I seem to be agreeing with you.

[FormerDittoHead]

7. excuse me... US CORPS ARE *BLOCKING* REFORMS IN CHINA!

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/13/business/worldbusiness/13sweat.html?ex=1318392000&en=004ae914c77ca2c1&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

China Drafts Law to Boost Unions and End Abuse
SHANGHAI, Oct. 12 — China is planning to adopt a new law that seeks to crack down on sweatshops and protect workers’ rights by giving labor unions real power for the first time since it introduced market forces in the 1980’s.

The move, which underscores the government’s growing concern about the widening income gap and threats of social unrest, is setting off a battle with American and other foreign corporations that have lobbied against it by hinting that they may build fewer factories here.