SA: Cheap Chinese goods cause stir

  1. Posted on Monday 24 August 2009 - 09:03
    Mernat
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    Mernat Mafirakurewa, AfricaNews reporter Johannesburg, South Africa
    Trade Unions in South Africa have expressed anger over the continued influx of cheap Chinese goods and services forcing local companies to close shop. Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) - the umbrella body of local traders - has referred to the developments as a "tsunami".
    made_in_china
    Cosatu spokesman Patrick Craven said Chinese products are being produced by cheap and exploited workers. “The greatest challenge for SA was that China’s products are being produced by exploited workers without labour rights and earning appallingly low wages. It is for this reason that Cosatu believes SA should impose tariffs on all Chinese products,” he said.

    Commercial Counsellor for the Ministry of Commerce’s department for West Asia and Africa Affairs Xie Yajing said that while her government is willing to act, it needs the support and co-operation of African governments to succeed.

    Xie said last week that countries such as SA with respected quality control institutions should consider naming and shaming Chinese firms with products that failed their tests. “We hope they will co-operate with us to identify those businesses and products so that we ensure the bad practices are stopped.”

    SA’s textile union estimates 800 manufacturing units and 60000 jobs have disappeared in SA since 2001 because of unfair competition from China. SA has imposed antidumping duties on Chinese products such as face cloths, door locks and handles, and blankets.

    Xie told African journalists in Beijing her government was determined to deal with Chinese firms fuelling “wrong perceptions” that Chinese business sold lower-quality products.

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