F the WTO.

What are they gonna do? Stop us from buying every African a Mercedes?
[Rep]

Originally Posted by angelman:
Not sure that the WTO would like this, but then I am not sure if they are a toothless organisation or not. Sure they can impose sanctions but would sanctions be workable?

The WTO would then have to make all the players play fair.
Which it wont of course.
[Rep]

Has anybody read In Praise of Hard Industries by Eamonn Fingleton? It's been on the DC bookshelf for years but hardly anybody I have encountered has even heard of the book. It's essential reading for all patriots who value manufacturing.

A Website on the U.S. Trade Policy Disaster || UNSUSTAINABLE.org

Amazon.com: In Praise of Hard Industries: Why...
[Rep]

Originally Posted by angelman:
BC, did you know that in 2007, UK was 12th biggest car producing country in the world.

Anyway, it ultimately comes down to cost. Is there any other way, short of subsidies, whether they be tax breaks or any other incentive, that UK will be able to compete with Eastern countries? Certainly not on labour rates. Raw materials are the same, save for difference in shipping distances.

Japan 11596
United States 10781
PR China 8882
Germany 6213 (includes GM Belgium)
South Korea 4086
France 3019
Brazil 2971
Spain 2890
Canada 2578
India 2307
Mexico 2095
UK 1750
Russia 1660
Italy 1284
Thailand 1238
Turkey 1099
Iran 997
Czech Rep. 939
Belgium 844
Poland

12 th isn't quite so impressive when you know who 8,9,10 and 11 are.
[Rep]

Originally Posted by angelman:
What do you expect? If the British consumer is not prepared to pay higher prices for domestically produced goods, then what chance is there? Or are you advocating bringing in tariffs and barriers to protect UK manufacturing jobs?

Well of course. Yes, we pay more, but the money stays in our economy instead of building China's military. Sometimes I wonder when I read rubbish like this.
[Rep]

Originally Posted by John Connor:
It's really quite simple:

"If you don't make it here, you don't sell it here".

With exceptions for geographically-dependant items (we expect Portuguese marble to come from Portugal, we expect Ferraris to be built by chimpanzees in Italy, we expect Harley Davidsons to be built in The Land Of The Free™).

At his acceptance speech even Obama said no more tax breaks to companies that don't produce it domestically. 'Free Trade' might have worked in the time of Peel when we benefited from the arrangement, but it's killing us now.
[Rep]

Originally Posted by For_England:
Sometimes I wonder when I read rubbish like this.

WTF are you on about?
[Rep]

Almost all industrial nations, including the UK, have used protectionism in one form or another to their advantage at some time in the past.
[Rep]