The European Commission chief said she was “convinced that if the competition is fair” from China, then Europe “will have thriving durable economies”. But she said the “imbalances” caused by state support for Chinese industry leading to cut-cost products threatened jobs in Europe, and that was “a matter of great concern”. “Europe will not waver from making tough decisions needed to protect its economy and security,” she said.

  • CheeseNoodle@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    Massive government subsidies that allow companies to more or less run at a loss for the most part. Its the same playbook as Wallmart and just like Wallmart its a sure bet that those prices will go up once the local competition is wiped out.

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      Massive government subsidies that allow companies to more or less run at a loss

      Where does a government that subsidies a company operating at a loss get the money to fund itself and its unprofitable company? And why is the Chinese economy continuing to grow (often faster than its western peers) if all its businesses operate at a loss?

      Its the same playbook as Wallmart

      The playbook Walmart uses is to buy cheap disposable foreign imports wholesale and then sell them to western consumers at a 1000% markup, knowing they’ll break and need to be repurchased in short order.

    • febra@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      Well, it sounds like China knows a little more about the economy than we do then. Maybe we should do the same thing here. Consumers would be happy if they had cheaper products.

      • Pilferjinx@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        China doesn’t care as much about regulations. They’re okay with massive pollution and slave labour. Do you want to live with that massive lower quality of life to produce cheap products you still can’t properly afford because your wages have been cut? There is a tricky balance to keep China as our personal factory and not lose our ability to afford the things they make.

    • john89@lemmy.ca
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      6 months ago

      So… communism works?

      Looks like the only people this upsets are wealthy Westerners and their useful idiots.

      its a sure bet that those prices will go up once the local competition is wiped out.

      This actually never happened. Walmart is still cheaper than any regular* grocery store, especially the co-ops.

      *ALDI is cheaper because all of their products suck. Their produce sucks, their packaged goods suck, and their meats aren’t actually cheaper. I think less of anyone who recommends ALDI and regret all the effort I put into giving it a chance.

      • hark@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        *ALDI is cheaper because all of their products suck. Their produce sucks, their packaged goods suck, and their meats aren’t actually cheaper. I think less of anyone who recommends ALDI and regret all the effort I put into giving it a chance.

        I guess this is a regional phenomenon because the aldi stores near me have all been great and cheaper.

      • Riddick3001@lemmy.worldOP
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        6 months ago

        So… communism works?

        They are not Communist, it has now become an even more repressive autocratic regime, under the guise of a Communist label. If you want to know about communism read Karl Marx.

        • john89@lemmy.ca
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          6 months ago

          Right. I’m talking about this specific instance, not China as a whole.