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It is naive to think you can talk about this subject without politics. And
do not talk to me about strange bed fellows, the current administration is calling the shots backed by a congress controlled by his party. The head of the Dept of Ag is a member of the administration's cabinet. Those are simple facts. It is also naive to think that allowing the importation of in pot plants happens in a vacuum. Trade arrangements are made. 'You allow in pot plants, we back off steel restrictions.' We do not see the deals, just the results. As for level playing field, the world is not flat. Government paid construction costs and training, government sponsored low interest loans, and tax free periods all put bumps (and mountains) on the field. As most of these imported plants will be shipped on government owned airlines, it is not really even a single playing field. I expect moving $2B worth of in pot orchids means an annual $400M business for the exporting countries' national airlines. The Dutch have never consider the field level because US growers do not pay the same taxes on heating oil as charged on diesel fuel. I have heard the Canadian government subsidizes natural gas for their growers. It goes on and on. As for Taiwanese plants, I would not get too attached to them. I expect Taiwan's reign on the top will be a short one. The Taiwanese government is not the only government getting into the game. The Chinese government has also made a commitment to orchids and plants are already starting to flow out of that pipe line. I recently got an merriclone offering from the main land which undercut Taiwan prices by a larger percent than Taiwan undercut domestic prices. Labor in Taiwan is $600 a month while in China it is more like $100 a month. As for China, they would do best to watch their backs. Labor in Vietnam is more like $30 a month and I expect they will be playing a larger role in the game over the next few years. I do not know Thailand's wage structure, but it seems that they are also about to get in the game in a big way as well. "David Edgley" wrote in message ... For the purposes of this newsgroup, I have no political inclination and would appreciate others keeping politics out of the discussion. However, if someone were propose intelligent reform of CITES as it relates to orchids, I would be sorely tempted to abandon my position. David "J. Del Col" wrote in message m... (janet_a) wrote in message . com... August 24, 2004 Orchids Flourish on Taiwanese Production Line By KEITH BRADSHER That's the way capitalism works, folks. Free trade is the answer to everything; just ask George Bush. J. Del Col |
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