Tuesday, November 17, 2009

經濟轉型: 消費國變出口商,世界工廠變消費國 / Global Economy: Import, Export and Consumerism

Below is the transcript of my comments posted on Space's Nov 16, 2009 blog article entitled "威士忌 Whisky 為自己"
(http://mindnecessity.blogspot.com/2009/11/whisky-apec-suntory-hall-gag-obamaobama.html)

Space:

Thank you for putting all the relevant info in one place. I did read your WHOLE article, incl Prez Obama's speech.

In his address to the target audience in and outside of Japan, incl Democrats and Republicans alike in the US, there are many foreign policy messages that seem to be key to the future relationships btwn the US and her allies, enemies, and those in btwn.

Prez Obama mentioned China in his speech many times, partly to deal head-on with Japan's fear of a renewed US-China relationship at the expense of Japanese interest, but also to send a strong signal to Beijing prior to his visit. Of course, let's not be naïve and think that this was the first trial balloon launched to seek a Chinese reaction. For a major Presidential speech that was expected to garner world attention, a lot of bilateral leg-work would have been done by diplomats through official and unofficial channels. Also, one should not underestimate the pre-emptive statement made by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson on November 11th re China's positions on Tibet and other issues. All to say, there had been messages back and forth btwn the two countries before Prez Obama stepped onto Chinese soil.

I think the key point in his speech abt China is that the US intends to change the imbalanced US-China trade relationship. Currently, US consumerism is out of control and the World's Factory, China, is reaping the profit by importing billion dollars of goods into the US while keeping the value of the Renminbi (artificially) low.

I note that you've already posted a lot of info on Prez Obama's visit to China. So I will save some of my comments for later.

Attachment: A report from Ming Pao for your info.

【明報專訊2009年11月15日】

明言經濟轉型 消費國變出口商


奧巴馬在東京的演說中,向亞洲國家傳達的一個重要經濟信息,就是美國將加緊推動全球及區域性的自由貿易談判,希望令美國未來轉型成出口導向型經濟體,亞洲經濟增長也不能再依賴美國消費者。他說﹕「這次衰退其中一個重要教訓是,高度依賴美國消費者,以及亞洲靠出口推動經濟增長,都存在局限性。」對美國來說,這個新轉變將是多儲蓄一點、減少財赤和擴大出口,而亞洲國家應致力改善對美貿易失衡。他強調,美國願與亞洲國家共同努力,促成「多哈回合」談判成功,促進世界經濟平衡發展。美經濟學家指出,近年美國在亞洲貿易合作上裹足不前,令中國和亞洲有機會自行大搞自由貿易協議,華府已錯過了「上船」機遇,奧巴馬至少要在經濟層次上,重啟與亞洲的合作。

促亞洲改善對美貿易失衡:

雖然奧巴馬在演說中沒談到貿易糾紛和人民幣問題,但現實中,美國貿易保護主義問題繼續升溫。繼對中國進口輪胎徵重稅後,美國國際貿易委員會周五也初步裁定,中國和墨西哥無縫銅管在美國「存在傾銷行為,對美國業界造成損害」。美國一些廠家要求向中墨兩國銅管產品開徵最多逾85%的反傾銷稅。

(Source: 明報2009年11月15日 星期日 05:10 hk.news.yahoo.com/article/091114/4/f6ax.html)

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hari big brother, I have replied to your comment on my side.

Obama:明言經濟轉型 消費國變出口商
I purposely left out that from my "continue readings" , because this was full of LIES.

I would say you are too ignorant IF you really believed in WHAT Obama said.

I classified you as a sympathizer of the USA because you agreed with what he said.

I believe you are being assimilated by the US becoz canada is too close to the US, and you are both biased and unfair in this area.

Space

新鮮人 said...

我真係好想知美國人眼裏的"傾銷"嘅定義!!
他們所說很難令人信服!

Haricot 微豆 said...

Space Big Brother:

Given your strong words, I did re-read carefully what I had written and would like to offer you the following:

* Quoting from another source, in this case Ming Pao's interpretation of the bilateral meeting btwn the two Presidents, does not imply I am endorsing the content. I thought that was understood in our informal exchange of ideas (as opposed to official reports and documents where a disclaimer is often inserted at the beginning).

* Canada's export industry, esp the manufacturing sector in Ontario, has been hard-hit by the rise of the Canadian loony against the US dollar. So, it is not like I do not understand the economic advantage of keeping the Renminbi low by China. As opposed to the Canadian situation, I have no idea nor a position as to what the USD-Renminbi exchange rate should be.

* However, I do believe consumerism in the US has been out of control. It has been reported for decades in the media and academic world that the US (and other developed countries too) has consumed more resources on a per capita basis than many other nations. So, what Prez Obama said at the bilateral meeting really has no influence on my long-term belief in sustainable development.

* I did mention at the end that I would save some of my comments for later. My intention was to digest the info contained in the articles you have posted after the bilateral meeting and then further discuss the issues (of which trade is one, and there are several). Now I am not so sure.

* Did you say "sympathizer of the USA"? That reminds of the label "communist sympathizer" used by US Senator Joseph McCarthy during the cold war era in the 1950's. The practice of 扣帽子 + 鬥垮鬥臭 belongs to a by-gone era, please let's learn from history.

* You are one of the few bloggers who would put in a lot of effort to provide readers with ample information, something that I really appreciate and enjoy. I would suggest that we keep our exchanges on a non-personal level.

Respectfully


Haricot

Haricot 微豆 said...

新鮮人:

>> ... 我真係好想知美國人眼裏的"傾銷"嘅定義!! 他們所說很難令人信服!

您所統稱的「美國人」中也有鷹派鴿派,但好明顯奧巴馬是想減低美國和中國的出入口赤字 trade deficit,及降低失業率 US unemployment,但怎樣令別國相信那是尊守在APEC集体同意的 trade liberalization,而不是美國的保護主义抬頭,那又是另一回事了!!

the inner space said...

先要多謝 Hari big brother,有此氣量,沒有刪掉我的回應。

Whatever you said, 我祇想回應一點和提出一點。

》》Did you say "sympathizer of the USA"? That reminds of the label "communist sympathizer" used by US Senator Joseph McCarthy during the cold war era in the 1950's. The practice of 扣帽子 + 鬥垮鬥臭 belongs to a by-gone era, please let's learn from history.

麥卡錫主義的 "communist sympathizer" 是政治性 political 的,我說 兄臺閣下 是 "sympathizer of the USA" 是 economically 的,是沒有政治性質 non political 的。絕沒有包含要 扣帽子,“闘跨”、“闘臭”、“闘爭”的意圖,這需要澄清。

另外
得蒙 Hari big brother 錯愛,不時回應我的文章,或另立文章多加討論,誠惶誠恐,遂妄想把兄臺引為網上好友。要做成好友,要無所不談,就要知道對方的“底線”。

經此一試,很明顯兄臺沒有此種意圖,做朋友是雙方的。兄臺說:“I would suggest that we keep our exchanges on a non-personal level.” 君子之交淡如水,我尊重兄臺意愿,是我自己妄想了罷!

最後借用一句:I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship tonight!

Haricot 微豆 said...

Space 兄:

網絡園地一如机場候机室,有緣萍水相逢,閑談聊天前程往事丶見解心得,班机一到,又分路揚鑣,各奔前程,故此同意与否,亦不須耿耿於懷。

故此這數天之三言兩語,沒有問題,我寫博是為了分享興趣,对升職發達無關,又不是去競選議席,所以我實在是沒有什么「底線」可言。

讀到最後一句,不禁笑了出來,畢竟您我都是戲迷!!

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