Chinese steelmaker pays for US tariffs (Bush was right, I was wrong)

BBC ^ | 4/29/02 | staff

[LarryLied]

This angle never occurred to me when I (and others) attacked the tariffs. While I still believe free trade is best, this does have short term advantages. Sure is shaking up China and aiding our allies in our war on terror. Any fellow free traders care to explain how this isn't in our best interests?

[Grampa Dave]

The stealth president strikes again.

[jlogajan]

Any fellow free traders care to explain how this isn't in our best interests?

Oh yes, artificially high prices for everything is really really good. How could we free traders been so stoopid?

[Bikers4Bush]

I agreed with it back when he put them into place and I still agree with it for the obvious reasons.

[egarvue]

...steel imports from South Korea, Russia, Taiwan, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

LOL! If this is for real, and the real reason behind the steel tarrifs, it just further cements my opinion of the craftiness of this adminstration. The Clinton administration, while brash and loud, always struck me as being rather bumbling and stupid when it came to their policies, hoping the brashness and loudness would cover up for their real lack of direction and substance. The Bush administration, on the other hand, is very quiet but moves powerfully, with long range purpose, and the effects are very real.

A good comparison is to that of chess. The Clinton admin reminds me of a hustling chess player in the park, playing blitz chess for a few dollars - move fast, talk trash, be loud, and hope that your opponent misses your few obvious tricks. The Bush administration is like a grandmaster - slower, quieter, and you don't understand the purpose of all the moves, but in due time the game plan evolves and you can see the purpose of some of the moves you thought were useless before.

[OldFriend]

It wasn't only free trade, it was about us making sure we have a dependable AMERICAN source of steel for our war effort.

[Willie Green]

How could we free traders been so stoopid?

Just born that way, I suppose.

[Miss Marple]

Hehehe. Do you think that the 24/7 Bush bashers will ever get it? I doubt it, because it would require a little PATIENCE, and patience is something they lack.

Thank you for flagging me. The Stealth President does indeed strike again. Ha!

[LarryLied]

Don't gloat too much Willie. There is a hidden weapon here to use against you. This is happening because China was allowed into the WTO.

[jlogajan]

Too bad we free traders can't see the genius of "minimum wage" laws for corporations -- and other forms of RINO corporate welfare.

I guess welfare and minimum wage laws only misdirect poor individuals into sloughtful behavior -- but when applied to protecting corporations -- it somehow strengthens America.

Nice pretzel logic.

[Bikers4Bush]

O.k., here you go. Read part of an e-mail from my brother, who works as a materials engineer in the steel business, and explain to me how you compete with these tactics without tariffs.

I asked him who was dumping the steel and how they were getting away with it. This was part of his reponse.

"The major offenders are countries like Korea, Brazil and Japan(more so before than now), who have very poor currencies and need American dollars much more than a paid work force. These countries in general also get heavy government subsidies, where rather than run insane wellfare programs they pay the steel industries to hire more people (cheap labor when it not only cost you nothing, but puts money in your pocket)."

Especially when if the U.S. supplies a subsidy it is immediately declared illegal by the WTO.

[Dog]

It's ok Larry....your man enough to admit it at least..:-)

Remember CHESS NOT CHECKERS!

[r9etb]

It wasn't only free trade, it was about us making sure we have a dependable AMERICAN source of steel for our war effort.

Precisely. IMHO the biggest problem with the idea of free trade is that it assumes that all sides are interested only in peaceful trade.

The weakness of free trade is evident in cases where the manufacturing base for one country (the U.S.) moves to another country (China) that stands a good chance of becoming a military rival.

[jlogajan]

slothful

[Grampa Dave]

Miss Marple identified the qualities of the Bush Administration and GW early last year in actions like this.

She labeled him the Stealth President in that he and his administration worked quitely in the background. Then we would read about the accomplishment as he outfoxed the rats and their pressitutes.

She and you are right on track here re the Stealth President and his Stealth Administration.

[Digger]

A high-five to us Willie.

[Grampa Dave]

I sorta of remember that your posts on this made sense instead of all the rhetoric from both sides on this issue.

So please refresh my old memory re your theory/replies which now appear to be coming true!

[Antoninus]

Pinkus...

[timestax]

bttt

[LS]

I don't like tariffs. But even Adam Smith argued that national security is NOT part of the "free market" nor subject to "laissez faire." This may qualify---though I emphasize MAY.