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I don't understand your argument. And if they Chinese tax US cars with 25% and the US taxes them with 2.5% (or was it 5%)? then it is reasonable to request equa

I don't understand your argument. And if they Chinese tax US cars with 25% and the US taxes them with 2.5% (or was it 5%)? then it is reasonable to request equal tariffs.

simonh 8y ago
Of course it is reasonable, so do that. Pursue them through the WTO or talk to your allies about reforming the WTO if it isn't working to your satisfaction, or scrap the WTO and build something better. If you believe in a global free trade system then build one. The US isn't doing any of that. I have little to no sympathy for China, but I do believe in equitable free trade based on consensus, a common rulebook and independent arbitration. It's served us very well and even with Chinese protectionism, which they have been gradually rolling back, the US and the rest of the world has profited from it. The economic issues in the West over the last 10 years were entirely home-grown and if anything trade with China has been a resilient economic buffer that's helped us cope with the financial crisis (if unintentionally). Blaming them for all our woes is just a distraction.
- speedplane 8y ago
  Trump and many of his predecessors have gone through the WTO and have very little to show for it. It takes years for any decision and by the time you get the result it’s far too late (see solar panels). Why should any country submit itself to a proven broken system?
  - simonh 8y ago
    The WTO dispute resolution system has actually been pretty effective[1]. It typically takes about 1-2 years, but usually complainants will impose interim measures themselves anyway. This is just a smoke screen though. Suppose China does make a deal with the US and does agree various measures, what magical secret sauce does the US have to make sure they keep to them and don't violate agreements in the future? There will still need to be a dispute resolution system, a genuine open free trade system can't operate without one. The US policy right now is inimical to that - it's brazenly and explicitly stated to be partisan and based on economic strength rather than equitable free trade. Steel tariffs on close allies on 'national security' grounds? Really? [1] https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/publications_e/dispu_settlement_e.htm https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/publications_e/dispu_settl...
    - speedplane 8y ago
      Yeah, the wto dispute resolution system is so fair that multinational corporations can no longer export pollution, weak worker safety protections, and fraudulent business practices to other countries. Everyone is on a level playing field. Or not. Good dispute resolution systems are good. Bad ones provide the facade of justice and merely give credibility to those that have the power to commit injustice.

I don't understand your argument. And if they Chinese tax US cars with 25% and the US taxes them with 2.5% (or was it 5%)? then it is reasonable to request equal tariffs.

simonh 8y ago

Of course it is reasonable, so do that. Pursue them through the WTO or talk to your allies about reforming the WTO if it isn't working to your satisfaction, or scrap the WTO and build something better. If you believe in a global free trade system then build one. The US isn't doing any of that. I have little to no sympathy for China, but I do believe in equitable free trade based on consensus, a common rulebook and independent arbitration. It's served us very well and even with Chinese protectionism, which they have been gradually rolling back, the US and the rest of the world has profited from it. The economic issues in the West over the last 10 years were entirely home-grown and if anything trade with China has been a resilient economic buffer that's helped us cope with the financial crisis (if unintentionally). Blaming them for all our woes is just a distraction.

speedplane 8y ago
Trump and many of his predecessors have gone through the WTO and have very little to show for it. It takes years for any decision and by the time you get the result it’s far too late (see solar panels). Why should any country submit itself to a proven broken system?
- simonh 8y ago
  The WTO dispute resolution system has actually been pretty effective[1]. It typically takes about 1-2 years, but usually complainants will impose interim measures themselves anyway. This is just a smoke screen though. Suppose China does make a deal with the US and does agree various measures, what magical secret sauce does the US have to make sure they keep to them and don't violate agreements in the future? There will still need to be a dispute resolution system, a genuine open free trade system can't operate without one. The US policy right now is inimical to that - it's brazenly and explicitly stated to be partisan and based on economic strength rather than equitable free trade. Steel tariffs on close allies on 'national security' grounds? Really? [1] https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/publications_e/dispu_settlement_e.htm https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/publications_e/dispu_settl...
  - speedplane 8y ago
    Yeah, the wto dispute resolution system is so fair that multinational corporations can no longer export pollution, weak worker safety protections, and fraudulent business practices to other countries. Everyone is on a level playing field. Or not. Good dispute resolution systems are good. Bad ones provide the facade of justice and merely give credibility to those that have the power to commit injustice.