China and US head for trade war
China could face censure at the World Trade Organisation after the US and Europe lodged a joint complaint over its restrictions on raw materials
exports
Europe and the United States announced last night co-ordinated action against China for busting World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules by restricting
exports of essential raw materials, raising fears of a damaging east-west trade war in the depths of the global recession.
Ron Kirk, the US trade representative, accused Beijing of putting a "giant thumb on the scale" by restricting exports of commodities including
silicon, coke and zinc, to give Chinese manufacturers an unfair advantage over their international rivals. "It's our job to make sure we remove that
thumb from that scale," he said in Washington. "Today's action is proof of our commitment to level the playing field in this area."
Well who hasn't seen this coming? Here we go...
Contrary to "Pop Culture " Beliefs the US and EU are still the big dogs. This can get ugly real fast. With the shrinking of the US manufacturing
sector from the glory days of over 30% of world production now down to 21% and falling. It is becoming very apparent the US needs to start
Manufacturing again. But how can one compete on an uneven playing field?
Some feel our real problem is not under manufacturing but over consumption our industries cannot keep up with our own demands. All too often too many
statements are made that only increase the confusion of the reality of the situation. Yes the US has lost manufacturing jobs. Yes our industry is on
the decline. No arguments there. But there are many ways to judge the situation. I even wrote a thread on topic
Here I understand all too well. No need to preach to the choir.
Most of what the US does produce are higher end higher technology that the average consumer would not see or is even aware of they would not find them
on the shelves at Walmart. Heres the kicker they are not all defense related either.
Source
World’s largest manufacturer
Published 6/23/09
Filed under: Miscellaneous, Politics
What country is the world’s largest manufacturer by a huge margin? If you have a kid, you would think it must be China — I don’t know the last
time I saw I toy (or anything else, really) that wasn’t made there.
Wrong.
Accounting for more than 20% of the world’s total manufacturing output is the United States.
Japan is a distant second at just over 13%. Then China (12%), and Germany (8.2%). Then, well, everyone else. (Data come from the Dept. of Labor and
the United Nations.)
Revenue Leaders by Nation
Country/Province Number of Companies Revenue Total (Millions) Average Company Revenue Growth (%)*
United States 290 $5,386,377 10.50
Japan 233 $3,624,074 6.74
Germany 40 $1,269,963 11.97
France 48 $1,103,959 4.23
United Kingdom 36 $882,521 17.30
China 36 $606,892 19.74
Netherlands 13 $599,939 7.97
South Korea 37 $574,252 27.46
Switzerland 21 $364,031 2.90
Italy 15 $356,603 5.75
Russia 8 $338,870 32.37
Canada 27 $335,500 24.20
Taiwan 29 $328,564 5.47
India 12 $206,903 48.20
Finland 16 $189,505 0.56
Brazil 10 $184,523 23.04
Sweden 14 $161,619 6.29
Spain 6 $149,468 7.73
Luxembourg 3 $145,569 14.33
Australia 12 $143,580 38.52
*Manufacturers that did not appear on the 2008 IW 1000 list were not included in revenue growth averages.
