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World’s top bicycle maker is moving U.S. orders to Taiwan factory

bloomberg.com

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Re: World’s top bicycle maker is moving U.S. orders to Taiwan factory

#81

Post by reaperducer »

nextos wrote: post #17
josho wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Sadly, it's all about price. It’s about price because consumers can’t measure by anything else. Eg. I can’t tell which of two products is manufactured to higher standards, nor which one isn’t infested with formaldehyde. Until consumers are able to determine those other factors then yes sadly it is all about price (and marketing).

That's not entirely true. In the EU, there are lots of tags that guarantee product safety. CE marks (for electronics), OEKO-TEX (safe textiles), GOTS (organic textiles), etc. The US has some equivalent ones I am less familiar with. In fact, both OEKO-TEX and GOTS are global standards. Some Xiaomi products have not been imported to EU because they failed to obtain CE marks. And you'd never encounter a product that sme…

In the EU, there are lots of tags that guarantee product safety

Like all those EU-compliant logos on the 1TB SDXC cards that sell for €10? Totally legit.

Re: World’s top bicycle maker is moving U.S. orders to Taiwan factory

#82

Post by microcolonel »

BuckRogers wrote: post #30
microcolonel wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The "traditional US allies" have been the least help in this. The U.S. government hasn't done enough to support Taiwan in my opinion, but U.S. relations with India, Viet nam, Korea, etc. are exceptionally good. Among them surely is a replacement for some of the scale and industrial power the PRC is unwilling to provide on reasonable terms.

The USA can't provide that scale and industrial power? Seems like the elephant in the room.

Maybe the U.S. can, but it seems that some people still think it's more efficient to go elsewhere, and in the near term I don't see that opinion changing.

Re: World’s top bicycle maker is moving U.S. orders to Taiwan factory

#83

Post by bpicolo »

weiming wrote: post #46

We just moved and needed to buy some new kitchenware. You would not believe how difficult it is to find so much as a spoon that is not made in China. Even from any name brand, even in a "fancy" store like Williams-Sonoma.

Gotta be more targeted in your searches if that's what you care about.

https://www.sherrillmfg.com/

https://www.globalkitchenjapan.com/collections/flatware-cutl...

Re: World’s top bicycle maker is moving U.S. orders to Taiwan factory

#84

Post by threeseed »

jimmaswell wrote: post #6
avocado4 wrote: post #3

Perhaps if manufacturers will move out of PRC into nearby countries it won't have a large effect on prices for consumers and businesses in the US, but at the same time will force China to make structural changes in adherence with the rules of global trade and human rights. Too bad Trump has alienated traditional US allies - if major economies teamed up in this effort it would have been a much easier goal.

I don't think allies are going to be permanently "alienated" by one president's remarks.

"Once bitten, twice shy" as the saying goes.

For example, the EU has acknowledged that their unflappable trust in the US alliance can no longer be depended on. And they are taking steps to move towards a more independent posture in particular on defence.

Re: World’s top bicycle maker is moving U.S. orders to Taiwan factory

#85

Post by datatrue »

hn_throwaway_99 wrote: post #39
nkozyra wrote: post #2

Amazing to see an anecdote like this trotted out as newsworthy. There are three total data points and two of them are incredibly vague. Honestly, this feels a bit like propaganda.

It's just a click bait title, especially since the last sentence in the article is "If America “decides to remove the 25% tariff, we will move the production back to China right away,” Tu said." Doesn't sound like the era of Made in China is over if they're itching to get back.

Made in China is over, that ship has sailed.

- US recently declared China to be a dangerous competitor,

- both parties are full-force anti-CCP. except maybe a few candidates like Joe Biden

- Taiwan view China as dangerous as well

- Way cheaper labors exists in SE asia

Re: World’s top bicycle maker is moving U.S. orders to Taiwan factory

#86

Post by reaperducer »

davidw wrote: post #18
josho wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Sadly, it's all about price. It’s about price because consumers can’t measure by anything else. Eg. I can’t tell which of two products is manufactured to higher standards, nor which one isn’t infested with formaldehyde. Until consumers are able to determine those other factors then yes sadly it is all about price (and marketing).

On that same subject - it was interesting to me how much better fresh produce was in Italy. In no small part I think this is due to the fact that people have a pretty good ability to distinguish the quality of a lot of traditional foods there. In the stores, the produce isn't usually as neat and tidy and pretty as in the US - you might even find a few bad bits and pieces, but by and large, it tastes really good.

it was interesting to me how much better fresh produce was in Italy

It helps that the food doesn't have to travel far from where it's grown. Sadly, the majority of the planet isn't as fortunate.

Re: World’s top bicycle maker is moving U.S. orders to Taiwan factory

#87

Post by microcolonel »

drogon50 wrote: post #69
microcolonel wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The "traditional US allies" have been the least help in this. The U.S. government hasn't done enough to support Taiwan in my opinion, but U.S. relations with India, Viet nam, Korea, etc. are exceptionally good. Among them surely is a replacement for some of the scale and industrial power the PRC is unwilling to provide on reasonable terms.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-48650505

The U.S. relationship with China is dominated by imports, so India restricting some imports from the U.S. (keeping in mind that China imposes far more severe tariffs on most U.S. goods) is not completely crazy.

Re: World’s top bicycle maker is moving U.S. orders to Taiwan factory

#88

Post by NorthOf33rd »

walrus01 wrote: post #11

If you know the bicycle industry, what's interesting is that Giant started out as a Taiwanese based manufacturer, and is probably going to go back there for some things. And to other places like Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia. They are actually not very much different from the top ten largest Taiwanese motherboard makers. All the motherboards used to be made in Taiwan (Hsin-Chu City, etc). For lower labor cos…

Even the parts still made in Taiwan are often made by imported labor, last time I visited a bike factory, many signs were _only_ in thai. Taiwanese labor is just too expensive to hit the margins targets US bike manufacturers are looking for. It looks like the shift that's been happening toward SE Asia will just accelerate.

Re: World’s top bicycle maker is moving U.S. orders to Taiwan factory

#89

Post by quickthrower2 »

nextos wrote: post #8

I don't immediately discard an item because it's made in China, as I know of some high quality items made there. Most Apple products, some Xiaomi products or Meermin/Feit shoes. However, I tend to be very skeptical about its quality. Moving manufacturing to China is most often done to reduce cost. The only industry where it's not done due to cost, but supply chain issues, is electronics. And with cost reduction comes…

I avoid things shipped directly from China or HK, but happy to buy something made in China from an Australia store so there is some guarantee of quality and safety.
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