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Should We Trade with China?

from Stella Miller (Stella@CollectibleAmericana.com)
Date: Fri, 19 May 2000 10:13:25 -0400 Subject: Thanks! Prof. DeLong,

Thanks for the info about your site. It's full of great stuff.

Here's a topic I'd love to know your thoughts on:

The recent mindset by Democrats and Republicans, alike, on Trade With China.

I for well over a decade, I've taken serious issue with how the Chinese have treated the Tibetans, their own citizens, the Taiwanese and now I'm concerned about their 'interests' in Hong Kong.

All of a sudden, the Reps and Dems have morphed further into ONE party in their shared belief that China will get accepted into the WTO and, if we don't trade with them, WE'LL be the ones left out in the cold. All under the guise of, "...hey, we can't influence change, if we pretend they don't exist!" while extolling the virtues of the Chinese working in American businesses (presumably in China) and how that will inspire them to run home to tell their neighbors about their great 'pay' and 'benefits' and THAT is what will change China....the Chinese, not pressure from the US.

Is this a cop out? Is this an excuse to use the cheap labor of China? Will US farmers really benefit somehow?

I've been dead set against giving China Most Favored Nation status for years now, thinking we'll teach them a thing, or two, but nothing's getting any better over there.

Maybe I shouldn't be mixing Trade with Human Rights? But, how else can we 'get' to them, if not through their pocketbooks?

(posted 8711 days ago)

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