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On trade, America can’t be first if it doesn’t compete

30 Comments
By Trevor Kincaid

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With the exception of American Farmers America is a very competitive country, what it cant compete with is deliberately under valued currencies, Foreign Countries that steal / copy its technology and then want to sell it back under different names.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Global unfettered competition has a legacy of destroying economies and industries. Communist-ruled China doesnt compete often, and it rocketed from nothing to No. 2. As Japan was gradually forced to compete more from the 90s, its economy stagnated and its brands were usurped by the Chinese and Koreans. Competition has ravaged Detroit, apart from the light trucks sector -- which is protected by a tariff.

One of America's greatest industrial entities is Boeing. It would be dead if was forced to compete. The US banned - banned -- Germany from making aircraft after WW2, right when Germany was the No. 1 aerospace power. If that didn't happen, we'd flying around in Junkers and Dornier planes today, not Boeings. And thered be a lot fewer Americans working in techology and engineeringjobs and way more low-paid farming and services.

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On trade, America can’t be first if it doesn’t compete. Trevor Kincaid

"The U.S. is being left behind only because Trump has chosen not to compete."

This article by Trevor Kincaid is a bunch of misleading BS. Trump does want to compete with a fair playing field.

TPP countries and other countries - their so called free trade - is loaded with trade barriers that is unfair to the US.

Kincaid is using the old adage, "The pen is mightier than the sword." in an attempt to fool people about what is not truly free trade.

A quote from P. T. Barnum, "You can fool some of the people all of the time; you can fool all of the people some of the time, but you can never fool all of the people all of the time."

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Ray PayneToday  11:13 am JST

This article by Trevor Kincaid is a bunch of misleading BS. Trump does want to compete with a fair playing field.

Trump's idea of "fair playing field" is everyone else buys American products because he says they have to, Americans buy whatever they want.

"Give me everything I want with nothing to do in exchange" is not exactly a trade policy.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Are you joking??? -- what does the US have to trade? Nothing.

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@katsu78

President Trump has never said that everyone must buy American products. He has only said the trade, when it occurs, must be fair.

America has excellent beef, some of the most plentiful processed food and agricultural products at most reasonable prices.

American agricultural products available for shipment can feed the world. I know what I am talking about as I have been involved in importing agricultural products from the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand to Japan.

Are you aware of the many levels of tariffs on these products? Not only are the products taxed but also the freight and the insurance. There are many restrictions and hidden trade barriers strictly enforced to drive up the cost of the products and make trade on certain items nearly impossible.

@mukashiyokatta

Costco has 26 large wholesale stores full of items from the U.S. in Japan in spite of the high tariffs and trade barriers. The U.S. has many products that are in high demand world-wide and much to offer in regards to trade.

If the high tariffs and trade barriers were removed, the people of Japan would have a better way of life.

Most hard-lines at one time were manufactured in America. American technology for many years has been stolen and copied by East Asian countries.

In America, there is R&D, in East Asian countries over the years, it has been R&C. Having lived in East Asia for 57 years, I've personally seen this with my own eyes.

All President Trump is asking for is free trade, truly free trade, that benefits all concerned. He is not saying all countries must buy American only, he is saying when they do, it must be fair.

An example of current unfairness is the tax on Australian beef coming into Japan which is significantly lower than the tax on American beef coming into Japan. My companies here in Japan, purchase tons of beef from the U.S. and Australia annually and this has been a major concern of mine.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

EU sells more to China than the US. They have a better trade balance with China than the US. Japan has a trade deficit with the US, yet. They also have a trade deficit with China because they are helping building China with their high-tech heavy industry like steel. Japan is an open country with heavy items like cars, steel, machinery. Also, electronics. But because Trump wanted to trash TPP there won't be a chance to lower tarrifs on meats that a lot of Trump voters enjoy complaining about. But Japan is quite open to non-Japanese seafood (below WTO rates and even zero rates).

Trump just likes to complain as he sees trade as a zero-sum gain. But Australia and Singapore (just two examples of around 15,-20) have trade deficits with the US but they are not complaining. A lot of Trump followers don't naturally understand how trade and technology works.

An example of current unfairness is the tax on Australian beef coming into Japan which is significantly lower than the tax on American beef coming into Japan.

Then tell Trump to rejoin TPP

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Japan has a trade deficit with the US, yet. They also have a trade deficit 

should be

Japan has a trade surplus with the US, yet. They also have a trade surplus

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Good posting, @Ray Payne. I'd love to see you state more examples because as an annual visitor to Japan for extended periods, I'm truly appalled at what the Japanese public is forced to pay for groceries. I'm guessing, and it's only a guess, that if Japan eliminated tariffs and hidden charges on imported foods, the average Japanese family's monthly grocery bill would be cut in half. I know my own is half the price of what I buy in Japan, when I return home to Canada, where we have an excellent, world-class (except for dairy and poultry) trade relationship with the US, Mexico and Australia, and a pretty good one with southeast Asian countries. It's really time for Japan to wake up and feed its people economically.

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What democrate don't understand is that america inside economy is too weak for its profit. US firms make trade all over the world on market that are merging and does not create the market. It kills the local firm in all economy in the world and this is not sustainable anymore. People have start to understand that trading with the US is trading with all the US and not only the nice US.

Democrate plan was democrate only for the american firms and not a worldwide level democrate contract. I do know the world law. So Trump with his noise is putting a stop to something "bad" and is thinking about america first when democrate forgot about the importance a fair trade between the different countries in the world for the america reputation. They have the right to make trade between them and left america out if she doesn't play a fair game. US is a titan that don't like to be limited and does care about the kid it trade with.

That is the problem that Trevor Kincade hasn't understood. America is not alone in the playground anymore.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

I'm truly appalled at what the Japanese public is forced to pay for groceries

You are probably checking the wrong place...places like grocery floors of expensive department stores. The Japanese people you see shopping there are there by choice and have lots of options for cheaper groceries.

For example at Gyomu Super you can get cheap frozen vegetables from other countries. 500g of brocolli for about 150 yen, for example. I can source 10 eggs for about 150 yen, which is pretty cheap. Lots of examples. My advice to travelers to Japan is don't go to expensive department stores for your groceries.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

https://www.kobebussan.co.jp/shop/

Here is the link. If you are traveling to Japan you can go there to find dirt cheap groceries and a lot of it imports. In fact when the yen gets strong from time-to-time they have a strong yen bargain.

No, Japanese people are not suffering from outrageous grocery prices and there is the proof.

Check it out!

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Countries, such as the U S A, have the right to not enter into a so called free trade agreement- if they consider the agreement unfair.

There should be no pressure from outsiders- on the U S to join TPP.

The U S not joining TPP  is of no business of any other country or any non-American citizen.

Pulling out of TPP is a decision made by the duly elected president of The United States of America, for the American people- as an unfair trade agreement.

U S trade agreements with countries, should be one on one- fair and 100% agreeable by both countries.

Instead of countries trying to intimidate other countries to join a trade group, they should concentrate on dismantling trade barriers that they have set inforce to disguise what they call free trade that is not truly free trade.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

that is not truly free trade.

But it is free trade. Japan is a cheap country. I have gotten electronic products for the same price or cheaper in Japan as I would have in the USA. I also just mentioned a very cheap grocery store franchise chain that sells lots of imported frozen products- much cheaper than the Japanese versions. I have no problem.

the tax on Australian beef coming into Japan which is significantly lower than the tax on American beef coming into Japan.

It just sounds like one winner and one loser. There is no point crying over it. Australia and Japan have a trade deal? OK, then the US should join TPP because under this schedule more American products were supposed to have cheaper tariffs in the future anyway. The world is made up of trade deals. That's life in the business world and everyone has to live with it.

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While there may be a few cheaper grocery stores here and there, in Japan, on the whole, the Japanese people pay much more for food than most other countries.

Those that have lived outside of Japan know this well. It is common knowledge that Japan is an expensive country to live in compared to most.

This is why wages in Japan must be higher than the average country in East Asia, to accommodate the high prices people have to pay for goods in Japan.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

The US is far more heavy handed in trade than Japan, or any nation, for that matter. The US uses its surveillance technology (ECHELON) to pass trade secrets of foreign companies to US companies.

The US threatens to finance and influence elections and has even threatened to support attacks by insurgents if a government did not support global standards in communications tech using patented technology from US companies, even thought the foreign technology is far superior.

Read the tariffs imposed by the US. The US is every bit as protective of US industries as any nation is of its industries and employment sources. The US is not a free trade supporter. It’s a supporter of selfish trade.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Having lived in East Asia for 57 years.

Things are a lot different in Japan now then it was in 1961. It's really not much different than any other average country like the USA, Australia.

While there may be a few cheaper grocery stores here and there

No, there are many. I just gave one example. Really, it's no longer 1961.

Japan is an expensive country to live in compared to most.

No, it's not unless you choose to do so. Housing is a bargain compared to the US now. Especially in places like California. Remember, this is 2018 now.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I would think carefully before peddling in conspiracy theories. It was the U.S. that had it's technology stolen by East Asian countries, not the other way around.

Why is it that television sets are no longer manufactured in America? The U.S. pioneered the television industry with technology. What happened to Emerson, Magnavox, Motorola, RCA, Zenith, and more. The same can be said for other U.S. industries (besides television) that have had their technologies stolen and copied by other countries.

I have personally seen, in Tokyo, a truck full of American JBL speakers, being unloaded and taken up to the top floor of the Pioneer building for R&C.

The U.S. has been a long-time supporter of free trade. President Trump wants our trade agreements renegotiated to be fair to all countries, including the U.S.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

It was the U.S. that had it's technology stolen by East Asian countries, not the other way around

Like what technologies?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The U.S. pioneered the television industry with technology.

I think you should check your history on that one. Many countries lay claim to such pioneering, not least Japan. (Of course, as any true Scotsman knows...)

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Early during the administration of Bush#2, the Republican controlled Congress passed a bill giving tax breaks to companies in order to make it easier for them to shift production overseas, mostly to China. As long as the 1% gets their slice of the pie, what happens to American workers is of little consequence to some of them.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

TV was invented in the UK. “Conspiracy theory?” Please. Wind turbine tech secrets were stolen from a German company and everyone in the energy business knows it, even if not everyone knows it. Everyone in the cell phone business knows the story of how CDMA 2000 standard came about, even if people with no experience in the cellphone technology standards industry don’t know it.

And 1glenn is right. Every single product sold in the US and made in China or anywhere else on the planet was ORDERED by American companies.

China doesn’t build mountains of cheap plastic crap on speculation, ship it to the docks of LA and hope people will buy it off the dock and throw it in their cars.

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@domtoidi

"....very single product sold in the US and made in China or anywhere else on the planet was ORDERED by American companies."

Um, no. China was instrumental in creating the global glut of solar panels, a technology America invented and holds many important patents for.

"There were roughly two panels being made for every one being ordered by an overseas customer."

> https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-china-is-dominating-the-solar-industry/

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

China was instrumental in creating the global glut of solar panels

Japan buys the same cheap solar panels too.

the Republican controlled Congress passed a bill giving tax breaks to companies in order to make it easier for them to shift production overseas, mostly to China.

Is the US the only country doing this? I find lots of Japanese brand items made in China.

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@JeffLee

The article validates my point and explains that the Chinese domestic market for solar is booming, not just the US. China saw the future of solar, invested in the technology to create efficient factories to reduce the costs, making solar a more competitive energy source globally for consumers.

Are you anti-solar or anti clean energy? I don’t understand your comment.

Do you support the proposed US tariff on solar panels that protects the US industry that is unwilling to invest in advanced manufacturing technology so it can raise prices to consumers?

You want consumers to pay 30% more? Is that the point of your comment?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

not just the US

India is making great efforts for grid technology with solar and the works. They are advancing and their big project includes 0% American products (yes, that means lots of Chinese solar products). The point is if Trump and his people keep whining about solar and wants to protect it so much instead of focusing on more advanced things then the US will be left behind.

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@domtoidi

Is that the point of your comment?

No. The point of my comment is that you are wrong, and I provided a link explaining a documented case clearly proving your comment is wrong.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I’m 100% correct that US companies order Chinese goods. I still have no idea what your point was. fini

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