Google, China And The Seafood Trade

The Hayride ^ | 1/21/2010 | MacAoidh

[Hayrider]

Today’s Wall Street Journal has a piece from former U.N. ambassador John Bolton congratulating Google for its decision to fight back against objectionable policies by the Chinese government with respect to intellectual property. Bolton’s piece, excerpted below, makes the case for American businesses – and our government – to vigorously defend our interests in dealing with China, lest the fears of Chinese economic supremacy prove true in a self-fulfilling manner.

The lessons Bolton asks us to draw from the Google-China imbroglio apply to a broad range of issues, one of which hits close to home here in Louisiana.

[Hayrider]

There is a line you don't want to cross between not letting the other guy screw you over, and protectionism. Given the poor state of quality control from Chinese products largely across the board, Vitter's bill to impose safety and quality standards on imported seafood equal to what American producers are subject to falls short of that line. Ambassador Bolton, he of the "don't take no s--t off anybody" diplomatic school, would be proud.

[Theo]

Welcome to FR, blog pimp.

[truthguy]

A lot of the products you get from China are junk. Some are quite good. I will go out of my way not to buy Chinese. It’s quite difficult sometimes and I’ve often had to hold my nose any buy Chinese. I cannot stand their trade policies. They have manipulated their currency so that products from China will always be cheaper and won’t adjust in price. This is killing US industry. China’s markets are pretty much closed to US Goods. This needs to stop. We must have access to their markets or we should cut off access to ours. This is long overdue. I don’t know why we haven’t done it yet.

[Hayrider]

Sorry, not impressed. Got anything else to say?

[Telepathic Intruder]

Since I found out about how China farms its seafood, I check the label every time now. I won’t even buy anything from S.E. Asia. Instead of filtering water in tanks for growing shrimp and scallops, they just fill the water with industrial-grade antibiotics. So not only do you get to eat something that’s been swimming in it’s own you-know-what, but it is also laced with medicines you wouldn’t treat your dog with, beyond its expiration date even.

[heartwood]

And you still have to worry about Americans cheating and shafting their customers. A NJ seafood importer just pled guilty today to importing tens of millions of pounds of Vietnamese catfish and calling it grouper.

http://www.startribune.com/business/82183987.html?elr=KArks:DCiUUUUr

[Theo]

I’m not trying to impress anyone.

I’m just tired of profiteering newbies who come to FR to promote their ad-laden blogs. You may have legitimate things to say on your money-making blog, but to promote it here the way you are is pathetic. If I were one of the moderators, I would ban you for your shameless self-promotion.