"China requires ID to buy cellphone number" by Associated Press | September 2, 2010
BEIJING — China wants people who buy new cellphone numbers to register their personal details, joining many European and Asian countries in curbing the anonymous use of mobile technology.
Most countries that have such rules say they prevent the use of unregistered phones in terror attacks or drug crimes, but some believe the move gives the government a new tool for monitoring its citizens....
Similar rules have been implemented in several Asian, European, and Latin American countries, often after phones were used to detonate bombs, organize terrorist attacks, or conduct criminal activities. Federal legislation has been introduced in the United States, where prepaid phones have long been used by drug dealers. In many places, however, the rules are easily skirted with fake IDs or false names.
You know, the kind Mossad assassination squads use.
But human rights advocates say China might be looking for a way to track people who spontaneously join protests. Users could previously buy low-cost mobile phone SIM cards anonymously with cash at convenience stores and newspaper stands and use them right away.
“I think the government has an eye on Iran, where protests were fueled by text messages and Twitter, and they are doing this for social stability reasons,’’ said Wang Songlian, research coordinator with the Hong Kong-based Chinese Human Rights Defenders.But when the U.S. security forces do such things it is called protecting the homeland.
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Let's just talk business, 'kay?
"US says China aided aluminum firms" by Associated Press | September 1, 2010
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration, under congressional pressure to take a tough stance on Chinese trade policies, determined yesterday that Beijing unfairly subsidized $514 million in aluminum products last year.
The Commerce Department stopped short of making a stronger ruling on claims by US leaders and manufacturers that an undervalued Chinese currency gives Beijing’s exporters a lopsided price advantage.
Who can blame China for protecting their economic interests?
I wish our government had protected ours.
The preliminary finding means that some Chinese aluminum importers must post cash deposits or bonds at a rate set by US officials. It comes as the White House attempts to strike a delicate balance ahead of November congressional elections that will be dominated by the weak US economy.
The Obama administration wants to address worries by lawmakers who say the United States is losing jobs because China’s currency policy keeps the yuan undervalued against the dollar and makes Chinese products cheaper in the United States.
Why did you guys give tax breaks so factories could be shipped over there?
But it also wants to preserve good ties with a country seen as crucial to dealing with global economic and environmental issues and with nuclear standoffs with Iran and North Korea.
And that has a ton of our debt it could call in or dump.
On the currency issue, Commerce refused to investigate allegations that China’s practices are an unfair subsidy.
This means NO WAR with CHINA, right?
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I mean, just a talking trade war:
"China imposes anti-subsidy duties on US chicken" by Associated Press | September 2, 2010
BEIJING — China has imposed anti-subsidy duties for five years on imports of US chicken products after concluding producers received improper support, the Commerce Ministry said yesterday amid a string of trade spats with Washington.
That means TARIFFS and TAXES, readers.
I don't know why all the fancy language.
Importers must now pay tariff rates ranging from 4 percent to 30.3 percent on US broiler or chicken products, the ministry announced. The ministry said producers benefited from government subsidies that lowered feed prices and hurt Chinese competitors.
That the same birds we are bathing in chlorine?
The tariffs apply to chicken parts and whole birds but not to live chickens or cooked products such as chicken sausage....
Among major producers, Tyson Foods Inc. is required to pay 12.5 percent duty, Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. 5.1 percent, and Perdue Farms Inc. 7.4 percent, the ministry said....
Products from the United States accounted for 89.2 percent of China’s chicken product imports in the first half of 2009, the ministry said.
Beijing and Washington also are embroiled in disputes over access to each other’s markets for steel pipes, movies and books, and other goods.Can't we work it out?
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Look, I gotta go, I'm going to have to call you back.
