“In Defense of Production”
As I am looking forward to once again being within the University classroom and setting in teaching the next generation of our businesspeople after some personal family forced travel and years of our national border Covid closures, I laugh at our world’s concern, or worry, of China’s “over-capacity,” or production.?
Who are we “Westerners” from our supposed “industrialized” imperialistic nations to comment.? This supposedly coming from laissez faire, free, and open, capitalistic nations who bartered and traded their way to prosperity off the backs of Asians and Chinese for centuries.? I fully understand China’s position that this might be yet another attempt to keep, or hold, China’s growth back.? I mean isn’t that what our West nations have and do pride themselves on being, open, fair, and FREE?? Albeit, the one-way trade might be disproportionate, but let us not chastise China for producing cheap goods, and for Western private companies to buy and sell them.? ??
Personally, as I have finally been back with my Chinese wife and son in China this past year, I am the first to admit how nice it has been to finally breathe clean air, as either factory production methods have gotten better in terms of health quality, lack-of-production, or a greater alternative energy use.? Either way, one can finally breathe in China again!?
However, as we know, much of our world, and we people, rely on producing, and production jobs, as this has become an increasing concern here and in other parts-of-our-world wherein clean energy production in terms of electric vehicles, and solar panels, are now replacing that once huge carbon emitting coal and gas industry.? However, we humans seemingly cannot now have it both ways, with either health and longevity via clean breathable air versus having jobs and salaries.? This, even further compounded by A.I. and machine labour replacing we humans.? That is typed in another LinkenIn post herein.
However, back to production.? How can one NOT be for it; meaning, how can one honestly wish for yourself, loved one, or neighbor, to NOT have a job and work?? Conversely, we have noticed the unhealthy global side-effects of all these produced, and production things, and at a constant rate.? Conversely, who is not in favor of longer lasting and living EV vehicles replacing our old petrol emitting air clogging clunker cars.?
While I am in defence of China’s production scheme, or model, I do believe in government equitable and fair-trade balances.? Meaning, if one country imposes tariffs on another country then that other country has every right to retaliate and oppose the same.? However, if China and Chinese people do not wish to buy, or purchase, American, or New Zealand beef, for example, then so be it.? There’s no demand.? Alternatively, of cheaper made and produced Chinese solar panels having a market abroad wherein we buy them, then let them export in.? It’s that simple!? Let us not use cloaked and creative terms such as over-capacity to deter other nations.? That is simply ignorant and rude.
In furtherance, if there are equal import and export taxes and tariffs in place and China does not wish to then export them then that over-capacity is their problem.? However, if those still same equal and fair tariffs exist and private Western companies and business still find Chinese products beneficial, then “LET THEM IN, AND THROUGH!”? Throughout history there has been this driving need of nations to be number one.? I, for one, simply do not get it.? These are the same nations who cry and beg for globalization, yet when another nation is winning, cries “foul,” and comes up with these quasi-economic spun terms such as "over-production".?
A proponent of free markets, I see this media banter as excessive and baiting to nationalists who truly do not comprehend, or know, what’s the driving force behind such comments, or why they are said and even spoken.? I would venture many nationalists are either making a profit in being so, or have not travelled abroad, or both.? Therefore, hopefully the above paragraphs keep you thinking, and begs the question on what free trade is, how can we ensure its survival, and to continue allowing we consumers to judge on what products are good quality for ourselves, not government, and whether they are healthy and price efficient.? Thank you.
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