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China Surpassed U.S. On Consumer Goods
Straits Times ^ | February 16, 2005

Posted on 02/16/2005 3:17:11 PM PST by srm913

China surpassed US on consumer goods

WASHINGTON - China has surpassed the US in consumption of every basic food, energy and industrial commodity except oil.

Even in consumer goods, the Chinese have overtaken the Americans in refrigerators, television sets and cell phones.

A report released on Wednesday by the environmental advocate Earth Policy Institute said only in automobiles does China still lag, with barely one-tenth the number of motor vehicles on its roads as in the US.

And in terms of per capita, consumption in China remains far below that of the Americans.

The report showed that China's 1.3 billion people ate 64 million tons of meat in 2004, for instance, compared with 38 million tons consumed by the 297 million people in America.

Fertiliser to grow more food is a measure of more growth to come in China's food consumption.

It was double that of the US in 2004, and both countries cover roughly 9.6 million sq km.

Steel is the commodity that most reflects a modernising country, and China was using more than twice as much as the US by 2003. "Steel consumption has climbed to levels not seen in any other country," the report said.

To feed its consumption, China imports massive quantities of grain, soybeans, iron ore, aluminum, platinum and many other products, which the report said puts its economy 'at the centre of the world raw materials economy.

Its voracious appetite for materials is driving up not only commodity prices but ocean shipping rates as well.'


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: china; globalism; trade
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To: NEBUCHADNEZZAR1961

"So that is what you say to yourself at night as you fall asleep to sooth your guilty conscious! Man, you should bottle that and sell it to all the other "investors" who are helping China exploit its people."
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So, are you saying that it's better for someone to beg for food than to work for a few dollars a day and provide for his family? I guess that person should just rest in comfort, even though he isn't eating, knowing that he hasn't been exploited and that you are feeling better about yourself 10,000 miles away. LOL
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"Oh really? Its the "only" thing? Sounds like you've got it all figured out."
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Again, what's your idea for making China a better place other than fecklessly throwing bombs at those who do?


21 posted on 02/17/2005 8:41:10 AM PST by Mase
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To: srm913

If we could only plant the 'keeping up with Joneses' syndrome over there....


22 posted on 02/17/2005 8:44:42 AM PST by traumer
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To: srm913

I advise caution in relation to China. Much of their growth is fuelled by indiscriminate lending by state owned banks. Part of this story will end in tears, certainly.

Regards, Ivan


23 posted on 02/17/2005 8:45:49 AM PST by MadIvan (One blog to bring them all...and in the Darkness bind them: http://www.theringwraith.com/)
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