STAND UP TO STEEL, MR. PRESIDENT

ICONOCLAST ^ | R. BASTIAT

[Apolitical]

With an imminent trade war looming in response to America's ill-conceived imposition last year of massive tariffs on imported steel, the time has come for George W. Bush to take action to undo that incredible folly before the impending conflict torpedoes the US economic recovery and shatters the fragile world trading system. His visit to London affords him an excellent opportunity to correct his mistake before time runs out.

Even before the steel initiative provoked the threatened retaliation by America's trading partners, it had already proved to be the single most economically damaging act of his presidency -- and potentially the most politically damaging as well. But the way that recent events have unfolded offers the President a brief window of opportunity to repeal the steel tariffs and thus to reaffirm his bedrock principles, regain the high ground, repair the damage, and save the world economy from a destructive round of protectionist blood-letting from which it may never recover. Time is short, and the stakes are high.

The immediate prospect of retaliatory duties on US exports was triggered by the ruling of a World Trade Organization (WTO) appellate panel on November 10 upholding an earlier finding that declared the steel tariffs to be a violation of the very trade rules that the US had helped to establish and had agreed to uphold. The timing of the latest decision is propitious, in that it coincides with a surging recovery that is resurrecting the demand for steel as business spending picks up throughout the US economy. Taken together, the two developments provide Mr. Bush with the perfect political cover that would allow him to scrap the tariffs before they do further damage, with minimal electoral fallout and perhaps even with political gain for his upcoming reelection campaign.

The WTO ruling paved the way for the complaining countries -- including Japan, Korea, China, Brazil, and every member of the European Union -- to impose billions of dollars of retaliatory tariffs on a wide variety of US exports that would effectively price these goods out of foreign markets. If the retaliation occurs, it is likely to come swiftly, as soon as the WTO officially approves the appellate ruling in late November or early December. President Bush has to act quickly -- perhaps in the next few days -- before this window of opportunity closes forever....

[Apolitical]

Tough call for Dubyah.

[Carry_Okie]

Without domestic production capacity, we lose a strategic asset of military value to our national sovereignty and gain the need to extend military protection around the globe (a burden not shared by other nations in the WTO). Note how America must act to guarantee delivery of raw materials for energy production.

It is indeed a tough call.

[concerned about politics]

FOX just reported the market is up more than expected, and job claims are now back to the Feb. 2001 level - back to where Clinton left us. Steel doesn't seem to be hurting us much.
There's people who like what Bush has done, and some who don't. Can't please all the people all the time.
I'd recommend favoring those who vote Republican. Why not? It doesn't seem to make that much difference.
This has been blown out of proportion, but this too shall pass like every other Bush bash.

[Axolotl]

I think he has to recall the tariffs if he acts on principle, but he could perhaps make a principled stance. For example, let's use this as a wedge to attack a broader range of similar subsidies (e.g. French farmers, Airbus) and accuse the EU of some pot calling the kettle black.

[Carry_Okie]

I prefer to confront the military subsidy to exporting American production capacity.

[RiflemanSharpe]

I hope Bush will stand up for an American industry and for American families. Keep the tariff. If a tradewar is what they want then lets give them a good one.

[hedgetrimmer]

Not.

"Evans admitted to the Detroit Club that U.S. manufacturers are complaining about "rampant piracy of intellectual property, forced transfer of technology from firms launching joint ventures in China, trade barriers and capital markets that are largely insulated from free-market pressures."

--The Great Awakening About China

There is absolutely no reason for the US to commit suicide via this fake "free market" philosophy. No other country, including those in the EU has opened their markets up like we have. No other country has let the "free traitors" put their personal business interests over the security of their country.

[zygoat]

Are the protesters in Miami protesting free trade? Or capitalism in general? I must admit that I don't understand a lot of this.

[concerned about politics]

Are the protesters in Miami protesting free trade? Or capitalism in general? I must admit that I don't understand a lot of this.

LOL. Who knows. They'll protest anything. It's like a club. If you see people with a sign, join them. Bring your own issue (BYOI).

[gcruse]

Nothing tough about it. The tariffs were a failed attempt to buy union votes and carry the rustbelt. Rove should have known better. Bush must undo this folly before it gets even more expensive than it already is.

[dirtydanusa]

Steel doesn't seem to be hurting us much.

When I started with AL in 1995, we had 5 furnaces, 2 Z-mills and many slitters working 24/7. Now, with about 1/2 the work force due to "Downsizing", we have 2 furnaces , the Z-mills work 1 or 2 shifts a day and the slitters are operated by a rotating crew as needed.

Putting tarrifs will never be popular with the offending countries but something has to be done to protect the nucleus of our security. When the inevitable conflict with China or one of its allies comes, how will we be able to manufacture and protect ourselves when the facilities and capability to produce have been torn down and replaced with shopping malls.

[concerned about politics]

Nothing tough about it. The tariffs were a failed attempt to buy union votes and carry the rustbelt.

This has helped as many Americans as it's hurt. Bush can't please all the people all the time. Someone somewhere will bitch no matter what. It's the "groovy" thing to do right now.
I think this is a "created crises" by the liberal press. Just another way to "Hate Bush."

[gcruse]

This has helped as many Americans as it's hurt.

You said it.  That means it hurt as many as it helped.  A trade war over something that was a wash is insane.

[concerned about politics]

Are the protesters in Miami protesting free trade?

Trade with S.America and "the envoronment." Hey, mother earth is the victim here. I think. Their signs change by the minute. LOL. I'm sure PETA is in there somewhere.

[hedgetrimmer]

Many of the protesters are communists. This is demonstrated by the groups that they represent.

If you have studied communism at all you should be aware of an individual named Hegel. He explained the theory of thesis, antithesis and synthesis as a tool for turning a free society into a communist society.

In the case of free trade, the thesis is that capitalism should rule the marketplace and there should be no trade barriers between countries. If you have concerns about this for a variety of reasons, you are told that you are just like the protesters. It doesn't matter if your concerns are unrelated to the protesters, like national security, food safety, economic stability for your nation, they just lump you in with the radicals.


The antithesis, represented by these protesters is that capitalism is bad, and that the workers are being hurt by it. They do a lot of things to make people uncomfortable and make them think there should be a third choice.

The third choice, the synthesis is predetermined. When people are uncomfortable enough with the instability the current situation is generating globally, they will accept the third choice. That choice has been predetermined. It is what the WTO is trying to put into place, which is global socialist control of the marketplace.

[concerned about politics]

The third choice, the synthesis is predetermined. When people are uncomfortable enough with the instability the current situation is generating globally, they will accept the third choice. That choice has been predetermined.

That's what Bill Clinton was talking about when he refered to his policies as "The third way."
That's why the left creates a crises (like health care).
When the health care issue first raised it's ugly head, 89% were happy with their health care. Today, it's a "crises". Now, there has to be that "third way" to solve the problem.

[1rudeboy]

Catchy slogan. You could just as easily say, "Keep the tariffs. For the children."

[1rudeboy]

Are the protesters in Miami protesting free trade? Or capitalism in general?

Both. For giggles, compare what the communists think, and compare it to some of the protectionists here:

Stop the FTAA. On to Miami

!

[RiflemanSharpe]

Catchy slogan. You could just as easily say, "Keep the tariffs. For the children."

I prefer keep the tariffs for the national and economic security of the United States of America. If China and India will not allow us free eccess to their markers then they should not have access to ours.

[hedgetrimmer]

That's what Bill Clinton was talking about when he refered to his policies as "The third way."

Exactly! And that is why we need to be vigilant against the "free traders",who are pushing an economic instability and against the ability for the US to be self-sufficient in manufacturing, food and national security, and the communists and anarchists who are pushing a social instability to force people to consent to the synthesis, the third way.

The things that are happening are very hegelian, Lenin and Stalin would be proud of the inroads the global socialists have made.