Everybody's against protectionism --

"China Slams US Over 'Protectionist' Solar Cell Duties" (Agence France-Presse)

BEIJING — Beijing on Friday blasted a "protectionist" US decision to slap hefty anti-dumping duties on Chinese solar cell makers, the latest barb in a series of trade rows between the global economic powers.

The US Commerce Department on Thursday imposed levies of between 31 and 250 percent on Chinese producers and exporters after saying it had found they sold solar cells in the United States at artificially low prices, known as dumping.

But commerce ministry spokesman Shen Danyang said: "Such practices... do not fit with the fact that Chinese enterprises are market economy participants, and highlight the United States' tendency towards trade protectionism.

"The US ruling is unfair and China is extremely dissatisfied."

Chinese solar cell companies on Thursday criticised the US move. --

except when they are doing it --

"Gov't Departments Told to 'Buy Chinese'" (China.org.cn)

China's central government departments have been told to buy made-in-China products when making government procurements, Xinhua reported.

China's Ministry of Finance (MOF) said in a statement Tuesday that central government departments should also procure energy-saving and environmentally-friendly products as well as authentic software.

The statement reiterated the strict regulations which exist governing the purchase of imported products. The statement also suggested that it should be made illegal to purchase imported items which are produced by fully developed domestic industries.

As the global economy continues to deteriorate, expect to see a lot more of this from the Chinese -- and everybody else.

Michael J. Panzner