Chinese Cars

Quoting Fooloso4

If Trump wins and inexplicably prevents on "blood bath" he promises a 100% tariff, but they would still be cheap.

Do Buicks and Lincoln get built outside of the USA?

Quoting Fooloso4

Would you buy a Chinese made car ?

Yes, I would buy a Chinese car and other products such as mobile phones or other devices. What is the big issue regarding Chinese products? I just don't understand the obsession with the Western world of banning them. It is true that their products were of poor quality some decades ago, but they are well manufactured now.

Reply to Sir2u

Made in China. Imported to the US.

Quoting javi2541997

What is the big issue regarding Chinese products?

It is largely a matter of politics. Both parties claim unfair trade practices. This is questionable because US companies including auto manufactures are subsidized.

At a rally in March Trump threatened that there would be a bloodbath if he was not elected because he would impose a 100% tariff. In a fact sheet from the White House in May Biden announced that he was imposing a 100% tariff on electric vehicles in addition to other tariffs.

Reply to Fooloso4 Interesting, I did not know that it was such a big thing.

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/automotive-industry/chinese-made-cars-in-us-market-a3786571662/

China has its fingers in almost everything you touch nowadays, so why would you not buy one of their cars?

When someone buys something, almost anything, there are many factors that have to be taken into account

Some just want cheap because they do not have the money for anything else.
Some prefer higher quality and are prepared to pay for it.
Some buy according to their needs, a pickup, family car, high economy run around, van.
And some buy just because the bloody thing looks pretty.

If the Chinese products fit your needs, why not buy it? Cellphones, tee-shirts, motorbikes, even MAGA caps were made in China.

Many years ago my wife had a little business selling used clothes. Where she bought the packets they advertised as GENUINE IMPORTED USA products. Most of the clothes were made in Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, China, Philippines, even some made here in Honduras. Only about ten percent were made in the good old USA.

I remember a long time ago when the same thing was happening with Japanese products.

Reply to Fooloso4 I understand. The eternal rivalry between the two superpowers of the world. When you live in a normal/non-important country like mine, it is important to be friends with both countries. American products such as Microsoft, Ford, Apple, Google, etc. are very important, but I think Chinese products deserve some respect as well. My previous phone was a hauwei, and it was probably the best cell phone I ever had. I can't remember about another whose battery lasted so long.
 
But, my perspective comes from a place that depends on both of you a lot. We only produce jamón serrano and tourism. We can't get rid of China as a partner because it will have a negative impact on our economy (as well as the United States).
 
So, yeah, I will still purchase Chinese products.

Quoting Sir2u

Most of the clothes were made in Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, China, Philippines, even some made here in Honduras.

I forgot to mention it, but thank you mate for bringing it to the table. Basically, the majority of the clothing comes from East Asia!

Quoting Fooloso4

Trump wins and inexplicably prevents on "blood bath" he promises a 100% tariff, but they would still be cheap.

There’s already a 100% tariff.

And yes I’d buy one. BYD seems fine to me.

Reply to Sir2u

Made is X is a somewhat meaningless term since parts and materials may come from elsewhere. According to Forbes there are no American made vehicles that are completely American made,

Reply to Fooloso4 I am not sure, but I think I already mentioned something similar.
But let's not pettifog about it.

Reply to javi2541997 Labour conditions, human rights, pollution and build quality are all issues.

Reply to Benkei Yes, poor labour conditions and pollution are basically nonexistent in the Western world. These issues only exist in China... :roll:

Reply to Benkei The local opinion about Chinese cars is that they only use enough metal to hang the paint onto.

Reply to javi2541997, it goes further than so. There are matters like the Uyghurs. By putting state resources behind ordinary capitalist competition they can override/subvert typical market rules (e.g. Huawei). China is lacking democratic (transparency/rights/freedom) standards. There's a case to be made.

Reply to javi2541997 Labour conditions in the EU are significantly better but yes exploitation exists everywhere. Environmental protections are better in the EU as well. Both of which cause local production to be expensive. The global North consumerism can only be supported through exploitation of the periphery, because only cheap production (eg exploitation) will ensure a level of profit that is sustainable under capitalism due to its insistence on growth. Obviously spending money in such a way as not to support the worst offenders is more ethical. Best is to consume less. And there are plenty of companies that have high(er) standards.

Reply to jorndoe Don't forget Hong Kong.

Reply to Benkei :up:

The unknown Tank Man and Tiananmen 1989 are a few decades behind us now; the Chinese regime isn't though.

Quoting Benkei

Labour conditions, human rights, pollution and build quality are all issues.

China is moving car manufacturing to Mexico. Trump's threat of a blood bath referred to this. Of course, American car manufacturers also make cars in Mexico.

Quoting jorndoe

China is lacking democratic (transparency/rights/freedom) standards. There's a case to be made.

We have ended up in a world where it's difficult to look to one country as a role model for human rights, transparency, and corruption prevention. Yes, China is not a country that can demonstrate its ability to govern over people, but the alternative is equally bad: the United States is not a true democracy.
For years, the American government imprisoned innocent people in Guantanamo Bay, and police departments clearly have unfavourable attitudes towards African and Hispanic people.

It seems like we are forced to allow American products because, how can we dare to try to ban you?

Take a look at this 1995 campaign in Finland against McDonald's garbage goods. Perhaps @ssu recalls that :razz: . Despite the opposite of the people, McDonald's is still accessible in Helsinki and the surrounding areas because if the Finnish government attempted to ban an American product, they would have immediately found themselves added to the list of communist and unfriendly nations, right? 1995 Finland

Reply to Fooloso4 I still don't want my money to flow towards a regime I don't think should remain in power. The profits will be used to maintain the means of oppression of Chinese citizens, where particular minorities suffer the most (Uighurs, pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong) and specific people who "dissappear".