Klarinet Archive - Posting 000220.txt from 2003/01

From: "R. Williams" <rwilliams@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] RE: Chinese Clarinets
Date: Sun, 19 Jan 2003 10:52:18 -0500

Maybe, but I doubt it. My initial opinion would be that it has more to do
with cost of production/labor than it does with any government supported
plan to flood markets, which was the case in the examples you cited. If
you really study the Japanese economy you begin to realize that in spite of
all their supposed might, it is very much a house of cards.

Conversely, Mainland China has huge cheap labor resources, including as has
been pointed out child and prisoner labor. Their overall costs are very
low so if they manage to bring in the technology and skills for advanced
manufacturing, they will most certainly be a force to be reckoned with.
Best
RW

>Willie wrote:
>Can't vouch for the pricing of clarinets, but I have purchased many
>parts (new and used) for my British bike collection from Canada and the duty
>was 6%. Some Items (like whole motorcycles) I believe are higher (up to 15%)
>but I think most common goods are still the old 6%. This higher dury was
>imposed due to the bombardment of the U.S. market with tons of Japaneese
>bikes at below manufacturing cost in an effort to dominate the market kill
>off the competition. The losses were easily made up by their Asian market.
>This is when the American manufacturer (Harley) stepped up to congress and
>fought back. They did the same thing with color TVs back in the 60s. In one
>month, 29 U.S. TV manufacturers went under. This is what worries me about
>the huge amount of Chineese instruments being dumped here now. Same tactic?
>Willie

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