4 ms·

I didn't read the article because it's behind a paywall, but I was wondering, is the Chinese market that much of a deal for Western companies given selling thin

I didn't read the article because it's behind a paywall, but I was wondering, is the Chinese market that much of a deal for Western companies given selling things in China is much harder than the other way around?

mc32 6y ago
Wanna be middle class people in CN buy fake Western brands, people who have money buy the actual Euro brands. It's their biggest market. But the brands pushed themselves into a conundrum, they have statements against exploitation and treating people with dignity, etc., and on the other hand they turn a blind eye to the cheap (forced) labor in western China and enjoy the nice profits from the cities in Eastern China. So they ignore their supposed convictions.
- 0df8dkdf 6y ago
  This is interesting, cause China has just become Europe's num 1 trading partner. Seems just like another US/China trade war escalating.
  - jonathannat 6y ago
    > Europe's num 1 trading partner if you only count goods. if you count goods + services, US is still the biggest trading partner
    - 8note 6y ago
      It's not too far off that the EU starts properly taxing US services, so that might not last
Daho0n 6y ago
There's no paywall? Maybe for the US? Nothing for me from Scandinavia. It is a big deal. One brand mentioned had 520 shops in China. I don't see how things are harder to sell. The article even mentions that covid cause a decline in sales but the higher sales in China can offset it for some (Hugo boss I think was the example).
bertjk 6y ago
One explanation: It is a big deal for Western companies given their Embedded Growth Obligations. A lot of their stock price and chosen leadership is justified only by the potential for growth that only winning the Chinese market can possibly provide.
nayuki 6y ago
You can bypass The Economist by disabling JavaScript.
aembleton 6y ago
Here's a copy of the article: https://smallpdf.com/shared#st=355d9816-1cd2-405a-984c-353e4c7524c1&fn=Fraying+at+the+seams+-+China+boycotts+Western+clothes+brands+over+Xinjiang+cotton+%7C+Business+%7C+The+Economist.pdf&ct=1616934743020&tl=share-document&rf=link https://smallpdf.com/shared#st=355d9816-1cd2-405a-984c-353e4...

mc32 6y ago

Wanna be middle class people in CN buy fake Western brands, people who have money buy the actual Euro brands. It's their biggest market. But the brands pushed themselves into a conundrum, they have statements against exploitation and treating people with dignity, etc., and on the other hand they turn a blind eye to the cheap (forced) labor in western China and enjoy the nice profits from the cities in Eastern China. So they ignore their supposed convictions.

0df8dkdf 6y ago
This is interesting, cause China has just become Europe's num 1 trading partner. Seems just like another US/China trade war escalating.
- jonathannat 6y ago
  > Europe's num 1 trading partner if you only count goods. if you count goods + services, US is still the biggest trading partner
  - 8note 6y ago
    It's not too far off that the EU starts properly taxing US services, so that might not last

Daho0n 6y ago

There's no paywall? Maybe for the US? Nothing for me from Scandinavia. It is a big deal. One brand mentioned had 520 shops in China. I don't see how things are harder to sell. The article even mentions that covid cause a decline in sales but the higher sales in China can offset it for some (Hugo boss I think was the example).

bertjk 6y ago

One explanation: It is a big deal for Western companies given their Embedded Growth Obligations. A lot of their stock price and chosen leadership is justified only by the potential for growth that only winning the Chinese market can possibly provide.

nayuki 6y ago

You can bypass The Economist by disabling JavaScript.

aembleton 6y ago

Here's a copy of the article: https://smallpdf.com/shared#st=355d9816-1cd2-405a-984c-353e4c7524c1&fn=Fraying+at+the+seams+-+China+boycotts+Western+clothes+brands+over+Xinjiang+cotton+%7C+Business+%7C+The+Economist.pdf&ct=1616934743020&tl=share-document&rf=link https://smallpdf.com/shared#st=355d9816-1cd2-405a-984c-353e4...