tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post5096404928422148959..comments2023-10-22T18:25:39.688+08:00Comments on The View from Taiwan: Free Trade Agreements and TaiwanMichael Turtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-9045500325293073992007-04-26T11:19:00.000+08:002007-04-26T11:19:00.000+08:00the other thing that i have to say is that Korea i...the other thing that i have to say is that Korea is not really a direct competitor with Taiwan. however, if Thailand were to have a FTA with the US, that wwould really hurt Taiwan (and its going to happen someday). My new Nikon D-80 was made entirely in Thailand, including the lenses and plastic molded parts. let's face some facts here. no one is going to take manufacturing from Taiwan to Korea when China, the entire SE Asian list of countries and India are all cheaper. the FTA is mostly about stuff like cars and and ice boxes, neither of which are made in Taiwan for the US market anyway. TVs for sure, but all TW owned TV products are made in China already.<BR/><BR/>stuff like Asus, Acer and other computer products, they are not just made in Taiwan, but they are owned by Taiwanese companies. those companies are already outsourcing in China or elsewhere as necessary. if it were advantageous to be in Korea, they would be already.<BR/><BR/>i know people are threatening doom and gloom over this, but i just don't see it happening, not over Korea. watch out for Thailand and India however. i've seen Taiwanese businessmen in Thailand and that is a good sign.<BR/><BR/>much of the gloomy forecast is about stuff that Taiwan has done to iself already, such as investing in China instead of at home. again, that has nothing to do with Korea.<BR/><BR/>now, if North Korea ever wakes up and loses that 1950's Communist State Mentality, it will become the New China of manufacturing and at that point Korea will have a tremendous advantage. that is the kind of thing that i think about....MJ Kleinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16859263977094071677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-87767390640438838992007-04-24T20:45:00.000+08:002007-04-24T20:45:00.000+08:00And you don't need to be an independent state to h...<B>And you don't need to be an independent state to have FTA with the US.</B><BR/><BR/>No, but apparently the US thinks so.Michael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-14241089106328452007-04-24T20:41:00.000+08:002007-04-24T20:41:00.000+08:00Agreed on all points. The FDI problem here is just...Agreed on all points. The FDI problem here is just a symptom of the bigger problem of Taiwan's inability to grasp how much it needs to internationalize.Michael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-49999004485428158992007-04-24T19:44:00.000+08:002007-04-24T19:44:00.000+08:00Taiwan has a huge trade surplus with China. Taiwa...Taiwan has a huge trade surplus with China. Taiwanese firms and individuals are getting rich off of their investment in China. Is this eroding Taiwan's middle class? It seems so -- but that's life in the big city. <BR/><BR/>Taiwan could take some tips from Hong Kong or Singapore and make the island more appealing to foreign investment. I will not hold my breath though.<BR/><BR/>Finally, not sure everyone in Taiwan would agree with you that China is Taiwan's enemy.Boyd Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15140107322784588284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-1235326534703193352007-04-24T19:12:00.000+08:002007-04-24T19:12:00.000+08:00here's what i'm saying Arty: china and other plac...here's what i'm saying Arty: china and other places make products that are similar in style and cost, and yet Taiwan has a market for these things _because_ they are made in Taiwan. i know what i am talking about because i make my living on China's ineptness, if you will. sure, Korean prices are cheaper. so are China, Malaysia and Thailand prices. the quality is lower too. if that is what you want, then by all means buy it. but there is a segment of the world market that just won't settle for low quality. Japan still manufactures a lot of products and they always will for the same reason. i just don't see a Korea-US FTA as a big threat to Taiwan.<BR/><BR/>as for the other thing, WHO knows? the world is a big stupid place sometimes....MJ Kleinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16859263977094071677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-41395697364235078912007-04-24T13:25:00.000+08:002007-04-24T13:25:00.000+08:00I can tell you where the growth will be for Korea ...I can tell you where the growth will be for Korea mj. Korea and Taiwan produce very similar goods at similar price. With FTA, Korea goods will be cheaper to buy than Taiwan's (several % of a few millions is a lot of money). It is called taking Taiwan's orders and run.<BR/><BR/><B>i think that if Taiwan can manage to get into the WHO it might lead to a different view of Taiwan on the world scene, a view more tolerant of an independant stance. that may in turn lead to a FTA with the US.</B><BR/><BR/>The problem is what's the odd of Taiwan getting into WHO without China veto it which apprently it has the power to do so. And you don't need to be an independent state to have FTA with the US.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-78388261705998635842007-04-24T08:50:00.000+08:002007-04-24T08:50:00.000+08:00a FTA with Taiwan sure would help what i do Michae...a FTA with Taiwan sure would help what i do Michael, but a FTA with Korea isn't going to hurt what i do either. anyone in the outsourcing game will tell you "don't have anything made in Korea." i'm not sure where that 20% going to Korea will come from, but i doubt it will be contract manufacturing.<BR/><BR/>i think that if Taiwan can manage to get into the WHO it might lead to a different view of Taiwan on the world scene, a view more tolerant of an independant stance. that may in turn lead to a FTA with the US.MJ Kleinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16859263977094071677noreply@blogger.com