Is there anything sold in Walmart, other than produce and many grocery items, that is NOT made in China? How many low cost electonic accessories sold in BestBuy, Circuit City, Radio Shack are NOT made in China. How many toys sold in the various toy stores, along with Walmart? Actually, this is not as xenophobic as it sounds. It bears on the “living off the grid” post and the practical economics of stretching the distribution distance of products. Imports are cheap so long as transportation costs (read: diesel fuel–trucks, trains, ships) are not excessive. And, you will note that the current high cost of oil these days is attributed in large part to increased demand for it where? YES–in China. So, while it pains those of us who must or choose to travel, the price of oil if not moderated could end up affecting China’s ability to flood the U.S. with inexpensive products, the trade balance, what products are available to those Americans who live off the beaten path and even possibly reinvigorate some local producers or industries that have suffered as a result of imports. Farfetched? Let’s wait and see.
Tags: China, imports, oil, trade balance, Walmart
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