Now, go after the conniving Japs and Koreans

Excuse me for butting in, but I'll have to say the US economy is one of the most protectionist ones I know... it is insanely difficult to bring new products into the US, IF there is already a comparable domestic product on the market. The government will bury many such attempts under so much red tape it delays the market launches by YEARS in some cases.

Same can be said for products that are new to the US market, but seen as something that would become extremely successful. The government delays the process enough so that domestic companies get a chance to develop their own competing products, and even saturate the market before the foreign product is allowed in. Seen that happen too. THere is potential for big money, so they do what they can to make sure that money stays in the US.

I'm not saying it's not smart business, it may be... it could also be shortsighted and for sure it is protectionist, which of course is deemed illegal or unacceptable by international standards, as we are seeing with the China example in this thread.

All I'm saying is that the US does it too. And I'm sure countless other countries as well.

Try to get a simple product into Japan, you don't know the meaning of "Protectionism"...

SteveL

Suuuureee it is. That's why they have a $250B trade deficit.

the Europeans have a "siege mentality" when it comes for foreign products, they are convinced if they let too many in, they are doomed. The Orientals are even worse, thinking that the white devil's products are not only a threat, but inferior as well.

Something is inferior to the chinese quality?

I think it is safe to say that any country that has any production of it's own, is protectionist to some degree.

Likewise, I think it is hypocritical for any country or a collection of countries to blame another for being protectionist.

They all do it, some just are more arrogant and pen about it or simply get caught. :)

Have spent much of my life residing in foreign lands, I would ask first that you really investigate what you are saying. Japan is a major example pf protectionism. You also forget that the US economy is swimming upstream in a river where government subsidization of everything from agriculture to basketweaving. French wines, and so much more. The US can not be blamed for trying, even in a small way, to protect what we have. The worst area of loss is, or so it appears, intellectual properties. Try to do business in a large number of nations and you had better be prepared to pay off the right people. It's a way of life to them. And if you get caught, the US government comes down on you for paying it even though it was the only way to get your product introduced.