Search

Examines the global counterfeit business. Perception that the industry is out of control; Examples of counterfeit products on the market; Concerns of multinational companies; Scale of the threat; Efforts by multinationals to stop the spread of counterfeits; Suggestion that China is key to any solution; Difficulties slowing down counterfeiters; How the global counterfeit industry is starting to rival multinationals in speed, reach and sophistication; Diversification of sourcing and manufacturing across borders by counterfeiters; How the goods end up in the legitimate supply chain; Profits; Challenges getting cooperation from China; Legal sanctions; Counterfeiting's connection to organized crime. INSETS: THE GLOBAL COUNTERFEIT INDUSTRY...;...AND THE KEY STEPS TO FAKING IT.

This article focuses on the problem of product counterfeiting and piracy in China. In 1995, China made promises to protect intellectual-property rights. Since then, authorities have launched numerous raids on illicit producers of software and music CDs. And many of the culprits have been convicted in Chinese courts. But even as U.S. business cheers Congressional approval of permanent normal trade relations with China in 2000, it is becoming increasingly clear that the piracy problem is still bad for software and entertainment companies. And it is spreading through many other industries. Many foreign manufacturers in China estimate that 30% of their products in the mainland are fakes.

This article analyzes the effort of the U.S. to normalize trade ties with China. Most U.S. exporters did not go to such efforts to educate assembly-line workers and small sub-contractors about the importance of international trade. A string of defeats in the U.S. Congress, followed by the trade talks fiasco in Seattle, Washington last December 1999, has finally awakened the business representatives of Washington to the power of grassroots lobbying. The U.S. administration under President Bill Clinton, promised an all-out effort to reprise the 1994 lobbying campaign to secure congressional approval for North American Free Trade Agreement. INSETS: TRADE WITH CHINA: WHAT NOW?;Committed to Normalizing Trade;Caught in the Middle of the Battle;Dead Set Against Normal Trade

Reports on concerns that the planned removal of a 30-year-old regime of strict import quotas on clothing and textiles by the United States and Europe next year threatens the jobs of 30 million workers across the developing world. Fears that, in a free market, China will come to dominate, pushing competitors out of business; Details of how, under the previous plan, individual countries were awarded shares of European and U.S. markets; Background on why the quotas are being phased out; Reasons why China is likely to dominate the market; Speculation that U.S. apparel and textile workers will lose their jobs; Attempts by Central American nations to negotiate a special trade deal with the United States; Other countries likely to benefit from the lifting of quotas, including India and Pakistan.

Focuses on the attempt of the administration of United States president George W. Bush to create a trade policy that will satisfy U.S. workers without appearing protectionist abroad. Threat of a trade war with China and Europe; Imposition of restrictions on Chinese textile imports; Plan to drop illegal tariffs on imported steel; Implications of the U.S. deficit on foreign trade; Deadline for the lifting of steel tariffs; Diplomacy needed to avoid major conflict. INSET: Trade Troubles.

Discusses the trade agreement reached by the United States and China in November 1999 in preparation for Chinese membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO). Negative impact of Chinese delay of modernization and reform; Political implications for the two countries; Advantages for the US, European and other foreign companies; Foreign ownership of Chinese companies and remaining obstacles to free trade.

The article focuses on the political battle in the United States to extend the most-favored-nation (MFN) trade status for another year to China. The demand to review the most drawn-out and heated battle over China policy in Washington since Tiananmen Square enraged the U.S. Congress in 1989. The debate is complicated by the suspected Chinese link to Donorgate, the July 1, 1997 transfer of Hong Kong to Chinese rule, a steadily worsening trade deficit, and recent confirmation of Beijing's sales of missile and chemical-weapons technology to Iran. Also, an anti-MFN coalition of Christian conservatives, the AFL-CIO, and human rights activists has won dozens of converts on the Hill.

The article profiles international trade negotiator Charles W. Freeman III, who is managing director of the China Alliance, a company that consults with auto parts makers in Detroit, Milwaukee, and St. Louis on how to utilize the $820 billion in foreign reserves that China is holding. Freeman says Chinese investment would strengthen ties between the two countries and help rebuild the struggling auto market. INSET: Charles W. Freeman III.

Discusses the bid by Chinese-controlled CNOOC Ltd. to purchase oil company Unocal Corp.. Fears regarding this bid among Americans; Assertion that blocking the bid would be counterproductive; Worries about China's growing economic and military strength; Analysis of international trade between the United States and China.

Speculates that the U.S. will increase pressure on China to revalue its currency. Details of a more aggressive approach to U.S. relations with China that places a higher premium on correcting the lopsided trading ties between the two countries; Importance of convincing China to let its undervalued currency rise, which will improve the U.S. economy; Analysis of the issue.

Presents a profile of Chinese vice premier Wu Yi, the country's top trade negotiator. Details of Wu's personal, professional and political background; Claim that Wu is reputed to have an iron will; Speculation about the outcome of upcoming talks between Wu and U.S. trade officials Donald L. Evans and Robert B. Zoellick; Details of the topics U.S. negotiators want to discuss with Wu, including a complaint before the WTO involving Chinese semiconductors, counterfeiting and piracy in China, and concerns about China's currency valuation; Reasons why Wu may defend some of these practices.

Focuses on a trade dispute between Intel Corporation and the Chinese government. Intel's refusal to comply with a Chinese deadline for so-called Wi-Fi chips; How complying could mean turning over proprietary technology to one of China's government-sanctioned companies; How U.S. technology companies are lobbying the U.S. government to intervene; Issue of how much technology should be shared with Chinese partners; Misgivings of U.S. tech companies about Beijing's Wi-Fi policy; Overview of the chipmaker industry; Speculation on whether the Wi-Fi dispute will escalate.

Examines foreign policy and diplomacy between the United States and China, after crew members of a U.S. military spy plane were detained in China, in April 2001. Benefits of ambiguity in U.S.-Chinese relations; Influence of Chinese public opinion on government; Involvement of the People's Liberation Army in Chinese foreign policy; Influence of U.S. nationalism.

This article focuses on the issues related to the entry of China into the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2000 and on the permanent normal trade relations between China and the U.S. The record of China's compliance in trade agreements is not good. Foreigners seeking patent, trademark and copyright protection get second-class treatment from Chinese bureaucrats. And piracy and counterfeiting of foreign goods are rampant, despite years of promises to reform. The administration of U.S. President Bill Clinton is planning a wide-ranging effort to force compliance. Once China becomes a WTO member, the U.S. and 135 other members can haul it before the dispute settlement panels of WTO. But that process can take years. To avoid similar impasses in China, the U.S. is recruiting U.S. bureaucrats to look after the interests of U.S. exporters and investors in China.

The article informs that Washington and Beijing, China have suddenly reopened negotiations to secure China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) before the end of November. That's when leaders from WTO member countries convene in Seattle to launch a new round of liberalization talks. U.S. President Bill Clinton and Chinese President Jiang Zemin had a lengthy telephone conversation on November 6, 1999 that immediately sent U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky jetting to China. The gambit failed when Clinton turned down the deal.

Discusses political relations in Asia as of July 26, 1999. Comment from Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui that negotiations should proceed on a state-to-state basis with China and that Taiwan should assume equal status; China's strategy to follow up its denunciations with an international diplomacy campaign to get Taiwan to reverse course; Warning from Beijing for Taiwan.

Comments on Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji's state visit to the U.S. in April 1999. Inability of Zhu to secure an agreement with the U.S. on China's entry into the World Trade Organization and its impact on his free-market agenda; Analysis of pertinent topics and relevant issues; Implications for international economic relations and Chinese economic policy.

Discusses the failure of the U.S. automobile industry to penetrate the Japanese market. Agreement signed by the Japanese and U.S. governments aimed at encouraging car dealers in Japan to market US automobiles; Automotive trade deficit of the U.S. in 1999; U.S. efforts to penetrate the Chinese market.

Focuses on the cooling of the relationship between the United States and China as of March 1999. US Republicans' accusations that the Clinton administration has taken a lax attitude toward China; Controversy over the the US technology transfer to China; China's irritation over US charges of human-rights abuses by China; Why the deteriorating climate may be only temporary.

Examines China's prospects for gaining admittance into the World Trade Organization (WTO). The attempts of the United States to set up entry for China; The effect of China receiving a ten- to twelve-year grace period for meeting WTO's terms; The trade talks; What China must resolve before it can enter the WTO; Other details.

Reports that the U.S. has placed import quotas on some Chinese textiles and placed China on a "watch-list" for failing to protect intellectual-property rights and has threatened to label Beijing as a currency manipulator. Efforts of the U.S. to narrow its $162 billion trade deficit with China; Reasons why these steps have been taken.

Focuses on the impact of Chinese textile exports on international trade. Views of U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman and European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson on economic relations with China; Impact of the removal of quotas on the productivity of China's textile industries; Guidelines imposed on China's exports due to its membership in the World Trade Organization; Potential for other low-wage nations, including India and Pakistan, to increase the number of imported goods to Europe and the U.S.; Long term implications of the abolition of quotas.

Reports on the implications of the end of quotas on U.S. and European textile and apparel imports, opening the global clothing industry to source from the cheapest suppliers, China and India. Impact on the U.S. textile industry, where an estimated 650,000 jobs could be affected; How textile industries in developing nations will be affected; How 50 governments are backing efforts by the U.S. industry to persuade Congress to limit some Chinese clothing imports for up to three more years.

Offers advice that could help the U.S. shrink its trade deficit with China. The need for Americans to save more so they are not relying on foreign lending to fund the federal government; Issue of China's undervalued currency, the yuan; Call for aggressive enforcement of trade law; Topic of defending intellectual property; Advantages of reopening the World Trade Organization regarding China.

Reports on the loss of jobs during the administration of United States President George W. Bush and what is being done to fix this trend. Plans for creating more jobs, such as the Buy America rule in which the Pentagon would have to buy a high percentage of weapons from U.S. companies; Negative effects on manufacturers, such as higher tax rates on companies that move production abroad; Economic relations with European companies if the Buy America rule is imposed; Ideas from presidential candidates for the 2004 election, including Democrat Howard Dean's idea to renegotiate NAFTA to add stronger labor and environmental protections; Role of bipartisan politics in urging Asian countries such as Japan and China to be more cooperative in economic relations.

The article discusses the U.S. business activity in China. After the U.S. Congress passed China trade legislation, business in the U.S. spent heavily to win permanent trade relations with China. But, the consumer group in China opposed the policy. Business spending also affected the U.S. political process. Joan Claybrook, who is a Public Citizen President, charges that warp policy debates on the merits into deals by dollar. Frank Coleman, who is a Chamber of Commerce spokesman in the U.S., replies that business spoke loudly and on message together.

Comments on trade relations between the United States and China and the role of House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt. Gephardt's announcement that he would oppose granting China permanent normal trade relations (PNTR); Campaign against human rights and labor abuses in Beijing; Reaction of business groups; Support he has received from businesses in light of his expected campaign for Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2000.

Discusses the danger of burdening the China trade legislation in the United States with partisan amendments. The objective of the amendments; Why Republicans and Democrats are worried over attempts to amend the core bill; The unexpected sources that many of the amendment ideas come from.

Notes March 2000 efforts of United States President Bill Clinton's administration to pass legislation that would grant China permanent Most Favored Nation (MFN) trade status. Administration support for China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO); Implications of timing.

Discusses the uncertainty that exists to permanently normalize China's trade status with the United States. Factors that are complicating the effort; The game that is going on between Democrats and Republicans over when the vote should occur; The diplomatic problems that exist in normalizing trade.

This article discusses issues concerning the office of the U.S. Trade Representative as of January 2000. Morale has plummeted at the U.S. Trade Representative following the collapse of World Trade Organization (WTO) talks in Seattle, Washington in December 1999. Staffers note that the agency has been excluded from the lobbying drive to secure congressional approval of Most Favored Nation trading status for China. That effort will be run by the White House and the U.S. Commerce Department. Meanwhile, the White House blames Trade Ambassador Charlene Barshefsky for the WTO debacle, reasoning that the agenda was ambitious and the organizational effort chaotic. The staff and business lobbyists blame U.S. President Bill Clinton for his suggestion at the global conference that the U.S. would use trade sanctions to enforce labor standards on developing nations.

Focuses on negotiations between China and the United States over China's membership in the World Trade Organization as of September 20, 1999. Problems faced by the negotiations; Issues that need to be resolved before granting WTO status to China.

Comments on United States President Bill Clinton's decision to hold out for a better deal from the Chinese in return for a US guarantee of their membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO). Circumstances of Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji's April 1999 negotiation trip to the US; Advisers who agreed that further concessions could be obtained; Republican attitudes toward a deal and Clinton's position.

Reports on developments relevant to world politics and international relations as of March 8, 1999. Tougher stand on export controls by the Clinton administration and its impact on China and some U.S. allies; Government policy on bank mergers in South Korea; Implications for international relations.

Examines issues that could ensure that trade relations between the United States and China will continue to decline during 1999. How a still-classified congressional report detailing charges of theft of sensitive US technology by China will hurt trade relations; Why tensions are expected to climb during spring 1999; Restrictions on converting Chinese currency that are hampering US multinationals' efforts to invest and turn a profit.

Focuses on possible U.S. crackdown on China's trading practices, with special reference to Beijing, China's failure to deliver on promises to safeguard American software, movies and books. Charges made against China; Use of prisoners to manufacture products for export to the U.S. by China; Decline in merchandise imports of China; Possibility of citing China as an international trade pirate; Concerns of the U.S. about the trade deficit.

Full-year sales rose 11 percent, led by China, Russia While China and Russia were the fastest-growing markets, Germany had record growth and North America also performed well, Ikea said. [Extracted from the article]