---The Bus Depot <ron@NETCARRIER.COM> wrote:
>
> Just recently South African manufacturers in general (textiles,
etc., not
> neccessarily automotive) were complaining about the extremely high
U.S.
> import duties on South African goods (basically a carry over from the
> Apartheid days), which make their goods uncompetitive here. Clinton's
> recent visit there touched on the issue, but no steps have been
taken yet
> to remedy it.

Even though I am politically left-leaning, which means I often take a
pro-labor stance on many issues, I have to break ranks and discuss
many of the tarriffs we have in the United States. I feel that this is
a direct Vanagon list issue, even if there is no VW content on the
surface.

The U.S. legislature has either been grossly misguided or extremely
slow-acting on tarriffs. While some might have been justified, such as
negative sanctions addressing human rights problems such as Apartheid,
many are simply separatist bull$#!t. Come on, who isn't pissed off
because of the 1971 tariff against imported trucks? Since then, we
couldn't get the VW single and double cabs unless via Canada.
Generally, all these tarriffs do are alienate potential trade partners
and remove the price-competitiveness from quality imported goods. The
loser is the consumer, and labor groups usually don't see much of a
difference anyway. (I can back this up)

So, folks, I encourage those of you who agree with this to make
individual efforts, as I intend to, to write to your respective
states' lawmakers in Washington over this. If you don't agree, please
pmail me with your comments.

Thanks,
Sam
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