[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

"China won't join NAFTA or CAFTA or any of those free-trade clubs. In China, Chinese industry comes first. And it's still, Mssrs. Friedman, the Peoples’ republic. Those Wal-Mart fashion designs called, chillingly, "New Order," are made in factories owned by the PLA, the Chinese Peoples' Liberation Army. "

China has been a member of the World Trade Organization since late 2001. It tried to gain admission for neigh on 20 years prior to being admitted. As part of the WTAO requirements, China drastically lowered tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade. China's strongest growth has occurred since WTO membership.

The economic analysis in this article is less than juvenile -- but, to be fair, economic theory is open to debate. However, even the simplest facts are, well not facts.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

WTAO = WTO

[JerseyHighlander]

Read up on the steel industry consolidation. Reads like they're pulling the plug on the rampant speculators, but swinging the pendulum way over to the command and control side of things.

http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=mergersNews&storyID=2005-07-20T051150Z_01_SHA268889_RTRIDST_0_MINERALS-CHINA-STEEL-FACTBOX.XML