Obama Declares War On China
 

I just received a call from a friend of mine and he told me that Obama is planning on putting a high tariff on Chinese made tires to make them more competitive with U.S. tire companies. Beijing considers it a trade war. This will double the price many owner operators pay for their tires. Obama did this after China loaned him money to bail out the banks and investment companies. I wonder if China will start to raise prices on products they export to the U.S. and put tariffs on products we export to them, if we have anything left to export? This guy is a real genius. :roll:

He's doing everything RIGHT according to "LAWYER'S LOGIC". Seems like, just about everyone in that profession has a way of putting the cart before the horse. Not much doubt that it will start a tariff war... Again. But, we also need to get back into producing our own goods. Tariffs are about the only way to get that started. Need to do that with Mexico too.

From what I've been reading, China does not import much from us. Neither does Mexico. Canada seems to have a pretty even trade going both ways, except for oil.

The only way we're going to get Americans back to work is to start producing what we consume, rather than importing it. But, he's also going to have to start listening to the "TEA PARTY DEMONSTRATORS" about his spending habits. He's still acting like the American Taxpayer is a bottomless pit of resources and funds.

Hold on there Chicken Little...............:lol:

1st, how does a 35% increase double the price?

2cnd, unless the O/O's run around in cars or light trucks, I don't think they have to worry.

3rd, any O/O that buys Chinese tires for his rig ain't that bright, and probably won't be around much longer anyways, as if all they can afford is cheap junk tires.

although I tend to agree he is going after his own agenda, so did another recent president in office and he wasn't impeached. Not trying to start a flame war but still.

I believe there already is an export tariff on all Chinese made goods.

I have been running some of the Chinese tires on my step deck and they are cheaper and have been holding up better than the tires I have been buying that were made in the U.S. Besides, some of the tires we buy are owned by the French and Japanese. Bridgestone is not a U.S. company but their tires are about double what I can buy one of the Chinese tires for and that is on national account. I have also had a problem with one of the Chinese tires and they stood behind the warranty. I have yet to have a U.S. tire company to stand behind a warranty other than Dunlop. I never thought that I would buy non American tires, but I will go where I can get the most value for my money. When U.S. tire manufacturers start standing behind their products and lower prices then I may switch back. However, I will NEVER buy another Goodyear or Kelly tire. Neither will stand behind their products. I can buy some of the Chinese tires for $189 for my step deck. If I buy Bridgestone on national account it costs me about $330. The Chinese tires will wear as well or better than the Bridgestones. I have also had good luck from Yokohama and can get those at a discount. For the last several years I have been experimenting with a number of different brands. So far the Double Coins have performed the best for the money. They recently came out with some that will work on my step deck. They are a little more money but I may try them to see how they wear. I believe in getting value for my money. Right now it isn't with the major U.S. tire companies. I am not even sure that Goodyear and Firestone are owned by the U.S. any more. If they want my business then they will need to build a better product at a competitive price. A good businessman will get the most value for his money. And I have been in business for almost 40 years. I must be doing something right.

O GEE Wilikers, The sky is falling, the sky is falling,

Be careful Henny Penny, Obama is after you're barn yard as well, I hear he wants to raise the egg laying tax to .10 for each squat....
Then when everyone who so blindly voted him into office is not looking he is going to take out his super duper ray gun and blast us all with slime......
OH NO MR Bill save us!!!!

Hum de dum it was all just fine until the AMERICAN PEOPLE voted in Obama, How could they do such an un american thing as to use the democratic system our forefathers put in place, shame on them...


Still to funny...

Timberwolf

Obama is gonna declare war on China because of their tires? :eek2:
President Bush went after the terrorists after 9/11 and Obama is going after China because of tires. Wow. I'd hate to see what would happen to China if they did something to the US.

My friend who read this to me said that the Chinese are the ones who said that Obama had declared war on them. They were talking about a trade war, not a fighting war, at least not yet. I think Obama just wants an excuse to put another tax on something.

Ohhh. Ok. :lol: I thought, "dag gum, Obama's short tempered". :lol:

Well, maybe in the future, we won't have anymore things being "made in China".

I would love to only buy products made in America. Our industry didn't move offshore over night and it won't come back quickly. Industry can be encouraged to move their operations back to the U.S. We have a ready and willing workforce that is ready to go to work.

Something I don't understand...the unemployeement rate is "supposed" to be sky high, and everyone is getting laid off, but yet, we still have stuff made "overseas". I aint dumb, but something don't make sense.

Wait a minute - earlier you said you were purposely buying cheaper products made in China. Now you are saying you'd love to buy only American made. What gives?:confused:

I would love to only buy American made tires, but until they start standing behind their products and get their prices in line with what I can buy elsewhere I will continue to buy where I can get the best deal. I used buy Bridgestone tires, but at this point their prices are much higher than I can get elsewhere and they don't wear any better than the cheaper tires.

Congratulations. You just defined the entire reasoning against buying American-made goods, and defined why American companies are moving their businesses overseas.:thumbsup:

I also think that it is a bad idea to raise tariffs on their tires.....he did it for the unions and it will backfire.

Any kind of subsidizing is just bad idea, farmers and everything else. it keeps prices artificially high just so that some can have bigger profits even though market does not demand their products at that price...

When I grew up the Japanese were just beginning to recover from the devastation of WWII. Much of what they exported to the U.S. was cheap and inferior. That has changed dramatically. Japanese products are now among the best in the world. There used to be junk coming from China. That has not totally changed, but it has improved. They still send some inferior products to the U.S. and other countries. Some of these foreign companies are partly or wholly owned by U.S. companies.

American workers used to care about doing a good job. Workers took pride in their work. That is no longer the case. There are some, but for many they only want to do the minimum to get a paycheck. My how things have changed in a few short decades. This country needs to change their attitude. Obama can raise tariffs on our imports to make them more competitive with U.S. made products. That will not solve the problem. I will pay a higher price if the product I want to purchase is worth the higher cost. If I am asked to pay a higher price for a product of equal or lesser quality then I will opt for the cheaper priced product. If there was a tire made in the U.S. that would give me longer use and the manufacturer's would stand behind their products then I would go back to buying U.S. made tires. By the way, if you drive a new Freightliner your truck was most likely made in Mexico. And Freightliner is owned by Mercedes as is Detroit engines.

Do you support NAFTA? Did you support Clinton's trade agreements with China? From what you're saying here, you should.

In my opinion we have employer greed to blame for the lack of enthusiastic employees. Companies for the last 30/40+ years have looked soley the bottom line of revenue while forgeting about employee
loyalty. "
Thanks for the 19 years of service Mr Smith but it is just not working out anymore" the company loses Mr Smith's 60,000 salary and brings in Mr wet behind the ears at $35,000 a year. you see it every day, the days of people spending 20+ years with one company are sadly in the past. How can an employer expect employees to put forth 100% if the employee lacks a secure feeling, our nature does not allow for this to happen. If at any one time an employee feels slighted they will seek out other employment or look for ways to get back at the employer ie. theft, lazyness, lack of enthusiasim, and in general poor performance.
"never buy a car built on Monday or Friday" it is a catch 22.

I too wish to buy American products at all times however when it comes to large purchases like cars it will come down to an evaluation the the product and warranties versus the American counter part. My wife's Izuzu Rodeo is an American built car owned by a Japanese Comapny it runs great and still has plenty of room to go. My 67 Fastback is an awesome car built to last by Ford, However My 06 Mustang Sucks I have had numerous issues with it to the point that I am ready to trade it in and am looking at buying a Hyundai Santa Fe, right now I'm busy looking at the differences between the Escape, the Eqinox, and the Liberty and sadly the foreign import is coming out on top with the warranty and across the board reviews, as well as pricing..
I always tell my father he and mom lived in our country at the best time when we were still new enough to know better but not quite mature enough to know best..

Timberwolf

This is true. All 3 Freightshakers I've driven (one 2006 Classic and 2 2007 Century's) have been made in Mexico.

Also, Bridgestone and Firestone are part of the same conglomerate, although I don't know where said conglomerate is based.

Goodyear is still a US company. I was at the tire shop like 2 weeks ago buying 2 new tires for my car. I said to the guy the only thing i want is the tires to be made in the USA.

He told me in the 3 years he worked there i was the only one to ever say the tires have to be made in the USA.

I will always buy stuff made in the USA if i can. Somethings you just cant. I go to this website when ever i buy anything some what big www.stillmadeinusa.com To find out what brands are still made in the USA. I used it when i bought a dishwasher like 3months ago.

Look at my sig its been there for a long time and i agree with it 100%

You want to know where a truck is built,look at the first # in the VIN
1 US
2 Canada
3 Mexico

I never supported NAFTA. The agreement is too one sided, especially with Mexico. They get everything and we are left holding the bag. An agreement such as NAFTA only works if it benefits all signers. Our trade with China is also too one sided. We should not be the only country that is giving up our tariffs. At this point it is too late to do much about the tariffs. Adding tariffs at this point will likely not do much other than start a trade war.

It isn't just the employer. Employees started moving around more during the 1960's and 1970's. Both are to blame when it comes to employee turnover. I also fail to understand why some executives are rewarded for running their companies into the ground. There is disparity but it is the employer who puts his money and resources on the line. There are too many employees who have little or no loyalty. One of the major loss factors for any employer is from employees. Employees will steal from their employers which costs everyone. Employees will move for the smallest amount of money or benefits rather than trying to change things at their current company. The truth is that not all employees have the same value to a company. I believe that when a worker puts in more effort and is more productive that they should be better compensated. It goes back to performance pay which I have long supported. I recall someone posting on this forum some time ago that they would put in more effort if they were paid more. They never understood that an employer will only pay more for a worker who is putting forth more effort.

Exactly A Catch 22, I will show you mine if you show me yours, what came first the chicken or the egg, it goes on and on and on where it stops nobody knows.
This is what the industrial age has created, democracy and free thinking which are very great things to have, however the flip side to this is that you will always have extreme difficulty in getting two different sides to agree thus creating a circle of crapola.
There are many days I sit back and look at all the crap we see happening in our government (ALL PARTIES) the sh.t we see on the streets and the lack of compassion we share towrds our fellow man that truly makes me happy when I come home to my 90' by 110' section of my world, crack open a Coors light, maybe a shot or two of a good tequila (milagro Anejo) or Jagermeister and then I sit on my back porch by the pool and look back into my world, at this point I realize that nothing else matters in life but what is right in front of me.
Life is way to short to forget about the good stuff, and the good stuff is family. The job is just an exsistence, a means to an end, a way to pay a few bills, but by no means is it or will it ever direct or dictate my way of life. I did that for over 20 years in the hospitality industry and did not get sqaut for all my efforts. I used to have a work ethic that kept me away from my family for many hours, more then I have ever completed pulling a trailer, I played the game numerous times with all my superiors and customers, I gave up family time to make sure a job was complete or to cover others who could care less. Then in 2004 I was told I needed to be at work rather then go to my oldest daughter's graduation from high school. When I told the family this is what my boss told me I had to do, they all said Fu.k That!! Long story short I went to her graduation got fired from my job took 6 months unemployment, went to driving school, and have completley changed my outlook on this world and what priorites come first in my life from here on out..
I have never felt better.

It Is What It Is In My World

Timberwolf

Maybe an opposing view is needed?


Tire tariff aids manufacturing | detnews.com | The Detroit News

I hope they do improve facilities and hire more people. However, until they start standing behind their products they will need to get along without my business.

Thats fine it's your money. But that surely wasn't your point in the original post.

I don't want to pay more for my tires or anything else than I have to. I won't buy Goodyear if they were giving them away. The last Goodyear tire I bought was about 12 years ago. They don't stand behind their product. It is true that the main reason I started to buy foreign made tires was the price. If you pay full retail for the U.S. made tires you will be about double the price that I have been paying for the Chinese tires. But these foreign tires have been holding up very well. Whether I go back to American made tires or not they will not be Goodyear. It is a shame. I used to buy a lot of Goodyear tires for my personal vehicles. I also used to buy a lot of truck tires from Goodyear until they refused to stand behind them. There are other options in the U.S. I suppose that I will just wait and see what happens with prices. I need to buy 2 more tires for my step deck and one steer tire. If I go with the Chinese tires I had better hurry before the tariff hits.

You seem awfully intent on supporting non-American based companies for the sole reason of cost. I suppose one could quickly and easily make the leap to something very close to home for all of us - Mexican truck drivers. If you believe supporting a non-American company is a sound business decision, why would you ever assume that another person wouldn't use the same logic when wanting to get their freight hauled? If a Mexican truck driver will do it cheaper, we'll just use him!

What you're saying here, GMAN, is not at all a Republican principle, and frankly it shocks me how you're fighting it tooth and nail. Unless, of course, you're simply a RINO.

Expecting champagne income and cheap beer expenses has been the norm for quite a few years now. Along with the complaining about sending jobs oversea's because of it.

Gman,
Even if they were giving them away???? Wow That says a lot, Free tires and you wont take them????
I have to agree with the Rev you seem to have taken a left turn somewhere along the line?? Definatley not replublican banter coming from this post.

Hmmm, and people wonder why things can't be agreed upon or settled for that matter, both sides are pissing into the wind and then they look stupified when they come out the other end all wet.


Timberwolf

I am not against doing business with U.S. companies. In fact, I prefer it. However, I am unwilling to pay at least $100-150 per tire to purchase American when I know from past experience that they will not stand behind their products. I am speaking of only two tire brands, Goodyear and Kelly. I would buy most any of the others such as BF Goodrich, Firestone or Bridgestone as long as they were price competitive. I have an American guy who will change tires for $15/tire.

I look for value when I make purchases. Normally, I will buy American made products if they are available and at a competitive price. I will sometimes pay more for things that are made here than abroad if I feel that I am getting value. There are items that are more competitively priced that are made in the U.S. And I don't consider myself a Rhino. I am not sure I consider myself a Republican. I do consider myself a conservative. Not everyone who calls themselves a Republican is conservative.

As far as freight hauling is concerned, I don't worry much about the Mexicans killing rates. There are enough Americans doing that. In fact, many Mexicans would probably not haul for the cheap rates some of these people are hauling for. I offer a service that is competitively priced. I never said cheap, but competitively priced. I look for ways in which to enhance my value to my customer. I pick up and deliver in a timely manner and don't have claims. I am not sure some of the Mexican carriers can't say the same thing. In this business I think we have more to concern ourselves with our domestic competitors than anyone from outside the country.

Anyway, back to the post.

GMAN, I don't want to even try to speak for you but....... I think the point you are trying to get across, that the others don't seem to get is you look for (the same thing I do) the best value for dollar spent. That would include performance and service after the sale. We built a company from the ground up on this alone and was able to charge a full 30% more than our competition. We sold them on the fact that lowest price is not always cheapest. I cannot even start to go into the detail of all we did to offer a better product and service but in the end after a year long "test" of our equipment Vs. the others we won hands down and they had no problems justifing the cost difference when buying new equipment.

GMAN, you did right by voting with your wallet. I do the very same thing. :thumbsup:

Thanks, Ridge Runner. I am glad someone understands. I would be willing to pay more for a superior product, but don't ask me to pay more for a product of equal or lesser value. Having a high level of service can also sway my business. If all things are equal, I will go for the cheaper price. That is GOOD business. :cool:

The same can be said for freight rates. The shipper use's the lowest cost carrier. It doesn't matter if they don't make a decent living(like the china labor) that's not their concern,only the lowest cost.
Higher cost doesn't always mean better products or service.

Hu Jintao-Barack Obama Meeting: China Leader's Position - TIME

Interesting TIME article which deals with out tariffs..

I didnt know that 2/3 of the companies that make these tires are American. Were imposing tariffs on our own companies?

In the freight business, the cheapest price may or may not be the best decision for a shipper. I spoke with a carrier over the weekend who told me that his company has lost and gotten back business from a particular shipper over the last year or two. He told me that the cheap carriers who took the business away from them had quite a bit of damage and that is the reason they got the business back. It is a matter of getting the best value for the money.