China, our new buddy

May 24, 2000 9:57 AM

China, our new buddy It seems like history may be made today. I hope that if China does receive favorable trade status that it will go to improve human life in that nation and improve ties between our countries. I'd like to buy China a Coke...
posted by Brilliantcrank (7 comments total)

Okay. So what's the difference between China and Cuba? I mean, both are Communist nations, both have atrocious human rights records...

Oh, wait, that's right. China has more POTENTIAL CONSUMERS than Cuba! THAT'S why we've been kissing their ass for so long!

I hate America.

posted by solistrato at 11:33 AM on May 24, 2000

Just what are politicions need, more chinease money back their campagins.
posted by corpse at 12:48 PM on May 24, 2000

And oh, i made no claims to knowing how to spell.
posted by corpse at 12:49 PM on May 24, 2000

Campagin? Hmmm... Campagan... there might be something to that.
posted by owen at 1:27 PM on May 24, 2000

There's also the fact that the US has a fuck of a lot of trade with China already: after all, where do Nike and the Gap outsource most of their labour?

I remember being in the CNN Centre in Atlanta, where they hold a daily talk show, and the theme was "should we trade with China?" Well, I thought, take a look at your shoes or your t-shirt, and that answers your question.

The only improvement from China's joining the WTO is that global corporations using Chinese labour will pay lower export tarrifs. Nice one.
posted by holgate at 1:54 PM on May 24, 2000

Yep, this is pretty disappointing. At least I love watching all those Republicans say things like "Fidel Castro is scared silly of this PalmPilot, which is why we need free trade with Cuba" ... oops, I guess that wasn't what was said. The contortions to make it right for one but not the other are like watching a game of Twister.
posted by dhartung at 6:45 PM on May 24, 2000

A nice dissection of what this means can be found at Salon today.
posted by solistrato at 6:14 AM on May 25, 2000