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Automotive News & Views Buying American Cars What Does It Mean?
7263 messages, Last post on May 27, 2009 at 4:31 AM
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With parts coming from everywhere, does "Buying American" have much meaning anymore? Is quality and price the bottom line?
| Let's stick to the automotive side of things here please. I know side issues get brought up as examples, but we can't spin off into a discussion of Walmart here. | |
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is that they used to have some funny import laws that taxed the hell out of stuff that we exported to them. Back in the old days, Pontiacs in Canada were basically rebadged Chevies. The Chevies were made in Canada, as were the Canadian Pontiacs. I believe Oldmobiles and Buicks were imported to Canada though. I think the rationale was that the Buicks and Oldsmobiles were prestigious enough that the hefty tarrifs could be absorbed into the price of the car, but it would make an imported Pontiac too expensive. Still, it must've been expensive to make some of those Canadian Pontiacs, because they still used Pontiac interiors, dashboards, and sheetmetal that was altered to fit the shorter Chevy wheelbase. And they ran Chevy engines and drivelines. So that import tarriff must've been expensive, for them to go about getting their Pontiacs in such a roundabout way.  I guess Canada stopped doing this eventually, though.
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Replying to: andre1969 (Jan 04, 2006 1:02 pm) Canada-US Automotive Products Agreement (Autopact), a conditional free-trade agreement signed by Canada and the US in January 1965 to create a single North American market for passenger cars, trucks, buses, tires and automotive parts. In Canada FREE TRADE does not apply to consumer sales; it applies solely to manufacturers who meet certain conditions. Under the agreement, motor-vehicle manufacturers are obliged to maintain the same ratio of production to sales in Canada as existed in the 1964 model year; to maintain Canadian value-added or Canadian content equal to the 1964 model year; and have been required (from 1965 onwards) to increase Canadian value-added by 60% of the growth in the value of passenger cars sold (50% for trucks and 40% for buses). Between 1965 and 1982 Canada had an overall automotive trade deficit of $12.1 billion with the US, with a surplus of about $28 billion in assembled vehicles and a deficit of about $40.5 billion in automotive parts. Canada had overall surpluses in 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1982. Since 1982 Canada has had a continuing surplus with the US. In 1982-86 exports were $135.5 billion and imports were $112.9 billion, for a 5-year surplus of $22.5 billion. The 2 principal purposes of the Autopact were to lower Canadian production costs through more efficient production of fewer lines of motor vehicles and parts, and to lower consumer prices. However, critics note that the industry has remained essentially foreign controlled and that Canadian subsidiaries are less autonomous than they once were. In addition, they note that the industry spends little on research and development in Canada. Automotive industry employment totalled 70 600 in 1965, reached about 125 000 in 1978 before falling to about 99 000 in 1982. Since then employment has recovered to about 140 000. Under the Free Trade agreement negotiated with the US in 1987, Canadian safeguards would remain, with North American auto producers losing their right to import parts and vehicles duty-free from other countries unless the safeguards were met. Japanese and other offshore automakers would not be able to join the Autopact. The Canada-US pact can be terminated at any time by 12 months written notice by either government http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0001245
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Replying to: day9 (Jan 04, 2006 11:19 am)  I feel sorry for people living in China, I really do. The people get abused by american corporations. When I have video of chinese children chained to a sewing machine it makes this "human rights american" sick and sad. It's called Slavery in this country and shouldn't be tolerated any where on this earth. I'm sorry it came across that way and I hope I cleared up what I was trying to say.  Best of luck and I hope someday you can help China change. Respectfully, Rocky
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Replying to: rockylee (Jan 04, 2006 1:27 pm)
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Replying to: lemko (Jan 04, 2006 1:31 pm) |
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Replying to: fljoslin (Jan 04, 2006 1:27 pm) http://canadianeconomy.gc.ca/english/economy/1965canada_us_auto_pact.html |
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Replying to: rorr (Jan 04, 2006 12:36 pm)  Mexico is one of the most beautiful country's in the world and has some of the largest natural resources yet to be extracted. WHY ???????????????? Yes the Canadians Auto Workers are part of the UAW. I have said over and over again that Canada might as well be the 51st state. We are very close. kinda like sisters. Canada is a developed FREE country that supports human rights, freedom of speach, the right to vote, child labor laws, etc etc. The UAW is going to support those rights and in Canada you can't cross the picket line I'd rather buy a (CAW) GM vehicle assembled in Canada than a Toyota built in Kentucky. Why ? The money still goes to GM which is a domestic american comapany. Also that Canadian built GM vehicle also has more American Content than the Toyota. I however will say this. If the Asains ever get the american content upwards of 85-90% I won't complain too much. They are at 65% for the Acura TL. (I unfortunatly use to own one) The Honda Accord some say is 70% ???? 15% more to go and it will be American enough for me to not complain to much. Now if the plants someday become union then I will support them even more. Why ? I truely care about my fellow american and want he/she to earn a fair wage, benefits, retirement, which should be entitled to all people living in our great country. Not just for the select few with golden parachutes. Rocky
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Do you think someday we will ever get to see a automobile that is 100% American made ?????? I'd would be happy enough if it was 80% American and 20% Canadian=100% North American Made. I got a question ol' timers !!!!!! What was the last 100% American made car ?????? I would like to really know the answer. Rocky |
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