[lbo-talk] Re: Re: Africa starts to share in Asia's trade boom

[Joe Smith]

I'm not sure if a response was desired...  If the earlier Hindustan Times
article was a reminder of the durability of the colonial division of labor
in many African countries (i.e. continued dependence on primary commodity
exports), this one reminds us that neoliberal globalization also negatively
impacts those African countries like South Africa that have industrialized
(i.e. the race to the bottom).  China's dominance in garment production is
set to increase dramatically once the Multi-fiber agreement expires next
year.  This will put more pressure on domestic producers in many countries
as well as lead many transnational firms to move production to China.

joe

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jonathan Lassen" <jjlassen at chinastudygroup.org>


> Cosatu blasts China trade
> SAPA | 18 sep
>
> CAPE TOWN - South Africa's trade negotiations with China should be
> suspended until their effect on the local economy had been studied, the
> Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) said yesterday.
>
> In an address to the Textile and Clothing Workers' Union in Cape Town,
> Cosatu president Zwelinzima Vavi asked why government rejected calls for
> a moratorium and questioned its pursuit of a policy that deepened the
> country's unemployment crisis.
>
> He said Cosatu had pointed out that, in particular, the bilaterals with
> China would be harmful to the nation's industries.
> said in a prepared speech.
[snip]
> Vavi said clothing imports from China grew from 50 percent of all
> clothes brought in during 2001 to 75 percent in the first three months
> of 2004.
[snip]
> -------
>
> Joe Smith wrote:
> > They could have titled this article "Asian Boom Leaves Africa Largely
Stuck
> > in the Colonial Division of Labor."
> >
> > joe
> >
> > From: <uvj at vsnl.com>
> >
> >>HindustanTimes.com
> >>Saturday, September 18, 2004
> >>Africa starts to share in Asia's trade boom
> >>
> >>Africa still barely flickers on Asia's economic radar screen, but
two-way
> > trade is experiencing a boom that is likely to be sustained as Asia's
thirst
> > for oil and commodities is matched by Africa's hunger for cheap
manufactured
> > goods, according to Standard Chartered Bank.
> > [snip]