The big backfire? (24 Sep, 2020)

[aardvark_admin]

This column is archived at: https://aardvark.co.nz/daily/2020/0924.shtml

Is MAGA going to backfire big-time in the face of the US government?

Does it make sense to pick a fight with the world's most rapidly emerging superpower?

Whether China simply doubles-down and creates its own technologies to replace the ones that the USA is restricting or whether it just starts lobbing bombs, the outcomes are not particularly good for anyone in the USA.

Any predictions from readers?

[Perry]

No predictions. Dangerous game, that.

A comment, however . . .

It started slowly, with tariffs being applied to the importation of a wide range of "Made in China" products, especially tech products. Clearly, one of the designed effects was to protect domestic industries from competition.

Valid competition? Or unfair competition?

In such matters, it seems that condemnatory expressions rush to the fore. Fortress this, Command economy, Protectionism, etc.

No one seems capable of examining certain realities. China and NZ's 'Free Trade' is a good example.

How is a NZ producer of widgets (ADSB alarm?) to compete when the Chinese Labour market does not have:
ACC cover
4 weeks annual leave
2 weeks Statutory holidays leave
40 hour week
Generous social welfare
Taxpayer-subsidised hospital care
Taxpayer-subsidised doctors' visits for children
Minimum wage laws
Health & Safety laws
Factories and Workplace construction integrity & sanitary standards laws
Etc.

There can be no free trade between countries where the working standards are extremely disparate.

Tariffs can be used to regulate the imbalance, but only in a certain way.

[phill]

How is a NZ producer of widgets (ADSB alarm?) to compete when the Chinese Labour market does not have:
ACC cover
4 weeks annual leave
2 weeks Statutory holidays leave
40 hour week
Generous social welfare
Taxpayer-subsidised hospital care
Taxpayer-subsidised doctors' visits for children
Minimum wage laws
Health & Safety laws
Factories and Workplace construction integrity & sanitary standards laws
Etc.

There can be no free trade between countries where the working standards are extremely disparate.

Tariffs can be used to regulate the imbalance, but only in a certain way.

china already has most of those
the usa lacks quite a few .. and even more of them to the meaningful level

if your idea of nirvana for businesses involves the occasional wiping off of smeared workers from the machinery .. it says a great deal about your ability to empathize
if your idea of nirvana for businesses is to have slaves on call for however long they can be made functional 24/7/365 .. it says a great deal about your inability to organise a good labour force and integrated automation

[Perry]

china already has most of those

Featured snippet from the web

Annual leave is a paid benefit in China, and is required if an employee has worked more than one year cumulatively for all employers (not just the current employer). For cumulative employment of 1-10 years there is five days of annual leave, and twice that amount for service of 10-20 years.

[jo2lo]

Now present the USA employment rights, of paid vacation leave, medical care, sick leave, maternity leave etc
The USA has so indoctrinated its population that many believe it to be 'communist' to have free (tax paid) health care, or paid vacation time.
Service staff get paid a pittance of income because their "tips" will fill their living cost income.
What a steaming pile of BS.
Their employer gets away with providing zilch to the worker, claiming if the worker doesn't / can't provide good service then the lack of income is their fault, and not the employer's.

[Perry]

From a USA penpal, I was recently told that annual leave (vacation) does not accrue. I.e. If not taken within a given time, it's forfeit.

Make George Bush Land Great Again

[Kiwiiano]

Make America Grate Again!