Tag Archives: China

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Economic War: China slaps U.S. made cars with tariffs, blames it on the anti-free trade action of the United States

“U.S. vehicles benefiting from subsidies and dumping on the China market have substantially damaged China’s auto industry.”-statement from Chinese Ministry of Commerce

General Motors and Chrysler will suffer the most from Chinese economic action against vehicles made in the United States.

Anti-dumping duties on GM vehicles are 8.9%, and 8.8% for Chrysler vehicles.

GM vehicles will also face anti-subsidy duties of 12.9%, and 6.2% for Chrysler vehicles.

The tariffs target cars with engines bigger than 2.5 liters, and made between December 201 through December 2013.

German car makers BMW and Mercedes will be hit with much much lower tariffs.

Chinese officials say the United States is violating the trade rules of the U.S. dominated World Trade Organization.

GM and Chrysler officials are not to worried.  Why? Because the majority of the cars they sell in China, are actually made in China (another reason for growing unemployment in the U.S.), and the tariffs do not apply to the cars they make in China.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? It’s an official record, 6.3 million U.S. citizens left the United States. 40% of young adults want to leave!

“I don’t regret leaving the States one bit!”-Matt Landau, left the U.S. six years ago

The U.S. State Department is admitting that at least 6.3 million U.S. citizens have left the Untied States, officially to find jobs or go to cheaper universities!

“There’s a feeling among more entrepreneurial Americans that if you really want to get anything done, you have to get out of country and away from the depressing atmosphere. There’s a sense of lost direction, so more people are looking for locations that offer more hope about the future.”–Bob Adams, America Wave

Blame it on a bad economy, caused by outsourcing jobs: “We’ve pretty much outsourced everything else.”-Giovanni Pinzon, laidoff aerospace technician

The U.S. State Department said Russia, China and Latin American countries are the recipients of the brain drain from the United States.

“I connected the dots and decided that I should go somewhere different and learn something new, like Mandarin, to challenge myself. I picked China because it was growing so fast.”-Derek Capo, left Florida for China

According to Bob Adams, who’s been doing surveys of U.S. citizens leaving the country, 40% of 18 to 24 year olds now want to leave the U.S.! Adams says he’s been doing the surveys for the past nine years and said the latest numbers “…have shot through the ceiling…not something I anticipated.”

 

 

Business/Economics, International, Technology, U.S.

World War 3: Canada pulls out of Kyoto environmental pact, blames U.S. & China. Durban Deal a failure? Japan may be forced to follow Canada’s lead.

“The Kyoto Protocol does not include the world’s two largest emitters, the United States and China, therefore it can not work!”-Peter Kent, Environment Minister of Canada

Canada is the first country to officially exit from the Kyoto environmental protocols.  This follows the end of the second round of ‘Kyoto’ (aka COP 17) talks in South Africa.

The COP 17 talks acknowledged that the goals set at Kyoto would most likely not be met, and they extended the deadline for those goals to 2018.  This latest round of talks is being referred to as the ‘Durban Deal’.

Edna Molewa, UN Water and Environmental Affairs Minister, called the Durban deal a “watershed” moment.  However, Canada is raining on that moment, and Japan has been warning of leaving the Kyoto Protocol as well.

“The Kyoto Protocol is not the right path.”-Masahiko Horie, envoy from Japan

Japan can no longer meet all the agreed upon goals because of the fact that 85% of their nuclear plants are shut down, or damaged.  Even before the loss of so many nuclear plants (for various reasons) Japan was still the number 5 polluter in the world!  Think what will happen as they switch back to electricity generated by coal and petroleum fueled power plants.

The following countries either refuse to take part, have quit, or are threatening to quit the Kyoto Protocol: Brazil, India, New Zealand, Russia, Japan, Canada, China (number 1 polluter) and the United States (number 2 polluter).

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Government Incompetence & World War 3: Russia & China say the West is foolish to ask them to embargo Iranian oil! China willing to fight for it!

Russia and China have said they will not join any embargo of Iranian oil.  For Russia the reason is simple: “…we are not consuming Iranian oil at all!”-Sergei Shmatko, Energy Minister of Russia

You’d think the leaders of Canada, the U.K. and U.S. (the countries pushing for an embargo of Iranian oil) would already know that.

For China the reason is personal: “Iran is a very important supplier of oil for China. I believe there would be a massive conflict between America’s prohibition from, and China’s interest in, the Iranian crude. China won’t certainly do what the United States says!” He Jun, Anbound Information Consultancy

Put it another way; China is willing to go to war over it!

 

Business/Economics, International, Opinion, U.S.

The Beast Emerging? Russia says CELAC one more step to a one world government, wheat being sperated from the chaff

On December 3, all Latin American and Caribbean countries came together under CELAC (Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños, or Community of Latin American and Caribbean States).

The United States and Canada were intentionally left out.  China has expressed support for CELAC, and so has Russia.

However, in the official Russian statement there is an ominous mention of a one world government: “The rise of the new system-forming integration structure proceeds in line with the formation of a polycentric world and the strengthening of the role of regions in the system of global governance, which meets the interests of the entire international community.”

The push for global dominance is an ancient one, but it is not the goal of only one group. There are several elite groups in our global societies that are pushing to take over the world (why do you think there’s so many wars throughout history?).

Obviously the formation of a new economic order in the Americas, one that excludes the U.S. and Canada, is a sign of the ‘wheat being separated from the chaff’.  Do you know which camp you’re in (because for most of us powerless ‘commoners’ we really don’t have much choice)?

Business/Economics, Idaho, International, Technology, U.S.

Global Economic War: U.S. continues investigation into Chinese PV companies. Idaho’s Hoku silicon factory may be ended before it starts. City of Pocatello guilty of the same claims being made against Chinese government. U.S. is new battle ground between Chinese and European companies

The trade war between Chinese photovoltaic companies, and their supposed ‘U.S.’ rivals heats up as the U.S. International Trade Commission votes to continue the Department of Commerce investigation.

I say “supposed ‘U.S.’ rivals” because it turns out the gang leader is owned by a European corporation. Likewise, at least one supposed ‘U.S.’ polysilicon producer is owned by a Chinese corporation.

The U.S. Department of Commerce is set to render a judgment on January 19, 2012.  It could mean that actions will be taken to reduce photovoltaic (PV) products (solar power) coming into the U.S. from China.  China has responded by investigating polysilicon producers in the United States.  Polysilicon is used to make the solar power products.

Hawaii based Hoku International (owned by China’s Tianwei New Energy) announced they will be selling Chinese made photovoltaic modules through a subsidiary called Tianwei Solar USA.  Hoku is about to start up a polysilicon plant in Pocatello, Idaho.  Their silicon buyers are Chinese companies.

So Hoku is set up in a bad position; action by the U.S. government could hurt their new plans to sell Chinese PV products, and retaliation by the Chinese government could hurt their pending polysilicon orders.

But while looking into this mess, I discovered that what’s really going on is an economic war between China and the European Union, with the United States the battlefield.

The U.S. investigation was started by complaints from CASM (Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing).  The lead company in the complaint is SolarWorld Industries Americas.  Their U.S. base of operations is Oregon, but they’re actually a German corporation (SolarWorld) headquartered in Bonn.

CASM’s web site says six other companies operating in the U.S. have joined their organization, but they refuse to name the other members. They also have a interesting slogan (being that SolarWorld is a German company): “Solar technology was invented here [meaning the U.S.], and we intend to keep it here!”

CASM, through the U.S. Congress, recently sent a letter to President Barack Obama (sign by dozens of members of Congress), outlining what they call illegal trade practices by the Chinese government. Some of those practices were employed by the city of Pocatello, in trying to get Hoku to build its long delayed polysilicon factory in Idaho.

One of the claims is that “…cheap or free land from local or provincial governments; extensive tax breaks…”  This is exactly what the city of Pocatello did to win over Hoku.  The land was, in a round about way through huge property tax breaks (equaling the value of the land), given to Hoku.  Union Pacific Railway even got involved.

Union Pacific is going to be the main transporter of the finished polysilicon products.  Recently it was discovered, by Idaho officials, that in the rush (ironic ’cause it’s years behind schedule) to build the factory, that Hoku forgot to build the required double access roads!  Currently the only access to the factory is at the end of a dead end residential street (it was the residents, tired of the traffic jambs, that brought the issue up with officials)!!!  Hoku worked some magic with Union Pacific, who’s agreed to build the access roads.

By the way, one of the individuals credited with bringing Hoku to Pocatello, Gynii Gilliam, is now working at the state level as Idaho’s chief economic development officer.

So, the Europeans (specifically Germans, through CASM) are using the U.S. to launch an economic war with Chinese PV makers, but the charges they’re making against local governments in China are also applicable to local governments in the U.S.!  The pot calling the kettle black.  Unfortunately many ‘mericans (‘specially those working for Hoku, and other polysilicon producers) could actually end up losing their jobs if CASM is successful.

GLOBAL ECONOMIC WAR: CHINESE OWNED HOKU ABOUT TO START OPERATIONS IN IDAHO. WILL U.S. INVESTIGATION INTO CHINESE SOLAR PRODUCTS PUT THE BRAKES ON HOKU’S OPERATIONS?

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. troops evacuating from Pakistan

On December 4, U.S. forces began evacuating Pakistan’s Shamsi air base, after the Pakistani government, backed by China, gave them 15 days to get out or else.

Local Pakistani TV stations reported seeing U.S. forces leaving the air base. Their reporters observed U.S. transport aircraft landing at the base, and U.S. personnel loading luggage and equipment on the planes.

GEO also reported that security around the air base has been increased.

To try and convince the Pakistani government to change its mind, the foreign minister of UAE paid a visit to Pakistani President, Asif Ali Zardari. He said no.

Also, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, tried to get Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani to change his mind about boycotting the Bonn Conference. He said no.

Pakistan’s embolden anti-U.S. stance comes after making new deals with China, increasing Chinese military support for Pakistan.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Economic War: Get ready for stocks to crash! China continues ping pong games with European & U.S. bail outs, now says No Way!

“The argument that China should rescue Europe does not stand, as reserves are not managed that way…China’s purchases of European bonds, International Monetary Fund bonds and U.S. bonds are also based on those principles.”-Fu Yin, Vice Foreign Minister of China

Back on November 28, the Commerce Minister of China, Chen Deming, said they were more than willing to save struggling economies: “Some European countries are facing a debt crisis and hope to convert their assets to cash and would like foreign capital to acquire their enterprises. We will be closely watching and pushing forward the progress.”

Now, December 3, an official higher up than Chen says no way.  The Vice Minister of China, Fu Yin, says China’s $3.2 trillion in foreign reserves should be managed under the principles of “safety, liquidity and proper profitability”.

Apparently bailing out the United States, European countries, or even the IMF, does not meet those requirements.

Fu restated a requirement for future bailouts, that Chen indicated a week ago; any bail outs must play by China’s rules: “Successful investment should be reciprocal.”

 

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: Iran shoots down U.S. unmanned aerial vehicle, China says it will support Iran even if it means the Third World War, part of recent moves towards War

“Iran’s military has shot down an intruding RQ-170 American drone in eastern Iran.”-Iranian government statement

In the early morning hours on December 4 (U.S. time), the Iranian military shot down a U.S. unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).  The U.S. RQ-170 Sentinel stealth drone is used for intelligence, surveillance and for target acquisition.

An unnamed Iranian military official said Iran will take action against all foreign UAVs, even those outside Iran’s borders: “…the operational and electronic measures taken by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Armed Forces against invading aircraft will not remain limited to Iran’s borders.”

This is part of a quickening pace of actions on all sides that look like war is inevitable.

Just before Iran shot down the U.S. UAV, officials with the People’s Liberation Army National Defense University (China’s equivalent to any of the U.S. military academies) announced full military support of Iran: “China will not hesitate to protect Iran even with a Third World War.”-Major General Zhang Zhaozhong

Just this past week the U.S. Treasury Department asked all nations to stop buying oil from Iran (a futile move I pointed out).  If anyone really knows the ‘why’ of why Japan attacked the United States on December 7, 1941, it is because the U.S. stopped all oil sales to Japan. At that time the U.S. was the world’s main supplier of oil.

Just a few days ago the Japanese government responded to the current request from the U.S. Treasury by saying that out of necessity they can not stop buying Iranian oil.  Currently nearly 10% of the oil Japan gets comes from Iran. With more than 80% of their nuclear power plants off line, Japan’s need for petroleum is skyrocketing: “We need to be very careful in making such a decision, given that our priority is securing energy supply in the aftermath of the massive earthquake.”-statement from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs

I also pointed out that the result of such an oil ban would actually hurt us little guys: “As soon as such an issue is raised seriously the oil price would soar to above $250 a barrel.”-Ramin Mehmanparast, Iran’s Foreign Ministry

Also in the past week, the United Kingdom cut off all diplomatic ties with Iran, after Iranian protestors took control of the British Embassy in Tehran (on November 29, U.S. time).  This despite the  fact that Iranian police arrested at least 12 of the protestors, and Iran officially apologized. Western governments, and media refused to report the apology but Spanish officials confirmed it:  “He said he was aware that it had violated the Vienna Convention and for that reason he was passing on to his apologies.”-Trinidad Jimenez, Foreign Minister of Spain

Even British officials admitted that Iran apologized, but said they didn’t care: “…this remains a very serious failure by the Iranian government.”-William Hague, Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom

U.S. Vice President, Joe Biden, said there’s no proof that the Iranian government was behind the U.K. embassy take over: “I don’t have any indication how and or if it was orchestrated.”

The U.K. has thrown out all Iranian diplomats in Britain, and Iran has now done the same with British diplomats.

Norway also closed their embassy in Tehran, temporarily. They re-opened their embassy on December 1.

On December 1, former Assistant Counsel of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, Franklin Lamb, said Iran was being set up for inevitable war: “The other side (the UK) is provoking them (Iranian government). Hopefully the Tehran government will not fall in some of these traps that I think are being laid for it in a very dangerous way.”

On December 3, Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, said he would not allow the U.S. to use Iraq as a base for attacking Iran: “Clearly we are no enemy to Iran and we do not accept that some who have problems with Iran would use us as a battlefield.”

Recently al-Maliki was the target of an assassination bomb.

On December 2, U.S. Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta, said Iran is “a very grave threat to all of us”, and, any threat to the shipping of oil out of the Persian Gulf was the “red line” that would cause the U.S. to attack Iran.  Iran has warned that if they are threatened they will close the Strait of Hormuz, blocking all shipping from the Persian Gulf.

Also on Decmber 2, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, and current Security Council President, Vitaly Churkin, said the latest IAEA report on Iran’s nuclear program was a trick, because Iran was actually cooperation on the nuclear issue: “We thought that we were on the verge of restarting those talks on the basis of our proposals, because we started receiving some encouraging signals, substantive signals from the Iranian side…”

On December 1, the U.S. Senate passed, yet again, new sanctions against Iran, this time targeting the banks of Iran, and any foreign or U.S. banks doing business with Iran.

Also on December 1, the European Union passed new sanctions against 37 Iranian individuals and 143 companies/organizations from Iran, or doing business with Iran.

In response to the latest sanctions, Russia and China warned the West: “We hope the countries involved will keep calm, rational and restrained to avoid emotional actions.”-Hong Lei, Chinese Foreign Ministry

“We speak out categorically against cranking up a spiral of tension and confrontation on issues linked with Iran. We believe that this…is fraught with severe consequences.”-Alexander Lukashevich, Russian Foreign Ministry

And all these statements and events took place in just the past week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Economic War: CELAC holds first summit meeting, the U.S. & Canada are not invited! “Death sentence” for the United States! IMF begging CELAC for money to bail out Europe. Get ready for Second Falkland Islands War!

“This is the achievement after 200 years of battle…The [U.S.] Monroe Doctrine was imposed here: America for Americans, the Yankees. They imposed their will during 200 years, but that’s enough…As the years go by, CELAC is going to leave behind the old and worn out OAS! [U.S. controlled Organization of American States]”-Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela, December 3, 2011

“Today, we are going to give a death sentence to the Monroe Doctrine…that battle is culminating today with the creation of CELAC.”-Daniel Ortega, President of Nicaragua, December 3, 2011

CELAC was formed in February 2010.  On December 3rd, 2011, they held their first official meeting, and the Chinese were overjoyed: “I’d like to send my warmest congratulations. China is always looking to approach its ties with Latin America and the Caribbean from a strategic perspective and is willing to deepen dialogue, exchanges and cooperation.”-Hu Jintao, President of China, December 3, 2011

CELAC stands for Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños, or Community of Latin American and Caribbean States.  CELAC is made up of 33 countries from the America’s and Caribbean. It now dominates North and South American economic policies. The United States, Canada, and the European countries were intentionally left out.

“A union of Latin American countries is the weapon against imperialism. It is necessary to create a regional body that excludes the United States and Canada …therefore, it is the best time for prime ministers of Latin America and the Caribbean to gestate this great new organization without the United States to free our peoples in Latin America and the Caribbean.”-Evo Morales, President of Bolivia, February 2010

Even supposed South American allies of the U.S. are involved: “This is in our interest, not against the OAS or Iberoamerican Summit, this is integration between Latin America and the Caribbean. I laud the meeting as a step in the right direction for Latin America.”-Juan Manuel Santos, President of Colombia, December 3, 2011

The Mexican President, Felipe Calderón, had the honor of opening the CELAC summit with the first speech: “Today we continue in a long process that never before had managed to achieve the integration of Latin American and Caribbean countries!”

Almost 30 years ago Argentina lost a war to take back the Falkland Islands from the United Kingdom.  The islands are called the Malvinas in Argentina, and at Saturday’s first CELAC summit there was unanimous support for Argentina’s continued diplomatic efforts to take back the Malvinas: “The Argentine government has shown a permanently constructive attitude and willingness to reach, via negotiations, a peaceful and definitive solution to this anachronistic, colonial situation on American soil.”-CELAC declaration

The issue of the Falklands/Malvinas is even more serious as major oil reserves have been discovered there.

In a twist of irony, it’s been revealed that the U.S. controlled International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approached CELAC for loans to help bailout Europe!  Normally countries south of the U.S. border have always been stereotyped as beggars waiting for hand out loans from the IMF:  “This time, the IMF did not come to bring money but to ask for money! I would prefer to be a creditor than a debtor.”-Guido Mantega, Finance Minister of Brazil

“It seems like the tables have been turned. Latin American finance ministers used to shudder when IMF officials came to the region. And they were scolded, they were berated by IMF officials, who told them the way to do things… Now they’re the model of fiscal discipline and responsibility.”-Michael Shifter, Inter-American Dialogue

The President of the IMF, Christine Lagarde, was in Brazil, just before the CELAC summit in Venezuela. She admitted CELAC was the economic boss now: “It’s often the case that when one part of the world is not doing so well, the other ones are going to drive the bus and take the global economy forward.”