: Hi Duane,
: Interesting read. But it's hapening everywhere in the "western
: economies".

For items as big as kayaks, China is a bit distant from European markets
(although I think some are coming from there). In the main "British" kayaks
are moving production to eastern Europe - not just the recently joined EU
countries, but the ones who would like to raise their economies to the
level where they, too, could join a united Europe.

Their labour costs are lower because the standard of living is lower.
To bring back kayak production to the UK, we'd need to raise their standard
of living to the level where they need the same wages as us. Well, that's
an admirable aim. Western Europe has plenty of jobs - why else would we be
seeing so much economic migration from these same countries ? I fully
support the move to provide worthwhile skilled jobs such as kayak
construction to our less fortunate neighbours as being something that will
speed these neighbours into the community of wealthy western democracies,
which will aid the political stability of Europe among other benefits.

American democracy has had decades of being one of the world's largest
economic powerhouses behind it. China is cheap and dirty, but is striving
to bring it's people into a modern world with a standard of living to match
the west. With money goes power - it is highly likely that China will, in
time, turn into a rich capitalist economy with teh same sort of political
systems that the first world finds appropriate. But seeking to prevent this
change in China's ecomnomy will surely prolong, rather than end, their current
human rights situation ? American companies should be proudly badging their
goods "Made in China" if they want this change to occur ...

Andy