More News and Site Updates... Note: Items with a [blue star] are written by Roger Simmermaker.      The Autoworkers' Haves and Have-Nots Roger Simmermaker weighs in on the most recent New York Times Room for Debate forum.    BAMW: Quality American-made and tanned leather One area where there is a huge difference in quality between American-made, and say, Chinese-made products, but not such a big difference in price, is in the area of hand-made leather products.    Patriotic purchasing With a U.S. unemployment rate of 9.1 percent and a creeping dread about the economy, Simmermaker is part of a renewed movement to persuade American consumers to buy products made in the U.S. to advance economic growth and keep people working.    BAMW: An American blender that really blends So whether it’s mixed drinks, smoothies, whole juices, batters, ice cream, frozen yogurt, milkshakes, sauces, dressings, syrups, breads, appetizers, entrees, desserts, cookies, cakes, or pies, Blendtec has an American-made blender for you that’s up to the task.    Brevard man wants you to buy American New Balance is one of the few American manufacturers of athletic shoes, so it only makes sense that the 46-year-old Simmermaker, author of 'How Americans Can Buy American,' wears that brand.    ‘Buy American’ gets new emphasis For too long, movement leaders say, consumers have ignored where products are made and simply chased what they believe is the most inexpensive price — ultimately enriching countries like China and keeping workers there employed.    Buying American is emphasized With Monday being Labor Day, a U.S. unemployment rate of 9.1 percent and a creeping dread about the economy, Simmermaker is part of a renewed movement to persuade American consumers to buy products made in the U.S. to advance economic growth and keep people working.    Florida Man Proudly Touts 'Buy American' Cause A Florida man who walks the walk instead of just talking the talk when it comes to buying U.S.-made products has become the unofficial spokesman for buying American products. Roger Simmermaker takes it right down to his shoes, as he steps out in footwear from New Balance, one of the few American manufacturers of athletic shoes, according to Florida Today.    'Buy American' gets new emphasis A few years ago, a crew from CNN inventoried Simmermaker's home to see how many of his household items were American-made. He passed CNN's scrutiny and estimates that about 85% of the items in his home are American-made —(AT) from his New Balance shoes to his 1996 Lincoln Town Car that has more than 315,000 miles on the odometer.    Buy American! Chinese order 94 emergency vehicles from Michigan maker Spartan Chassis of Michigan (Nasdaq:SPAR) has begun supplying 25 Metro Star emergency response cabs and chassis to the Beijing, Shenyang, Suzhou, Taiyuan, Wenzhou and Wuhan fire departments in China.    Increase 200,000 U.S. Jobs by Buying American Made Products this Labor Day The Futon Shop, a multiplier manufacturer, has been making green mattresses in San Francisco since 1976. Buy green buy American! A new line of American made certified organic crib mattresses will be introduced this Labor Day.    Sherrill Manufacturing resumes flatware production with boost from Internet retailer A big order from an Internet-based retailer has let Sherrill Manufacturing begin making stainless-steel spoons, knives and forks at the former Oneida Ltd. factory for the first time in nearly a year.    Roemer slams China in front of Chinese Embassy Calling China a 'bear' that eats American jobs with unfair trade policies as its fork, presidential candidate Buddy Roemer made his jobs speech Thursday in front of a location he called the 'bear's den' - the Chinese Embassy.    Lipinski introduces 'Buy American' Bill U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski, D-Western Springs, today introduced the Buy American Improvement Act, to create jobs by eliminating loopholes in existing Buy American laws so that taxpayer money buys products made in the U.S., not in foreign countries.    Burnet passes 'Buy American' resolution Burnet County Commissioners passed a resolution for county leaders to make a conscious effort to buy American-made products in hopes of raising awareness about supporting the United States economy.    BAMW: Join the Buy American Project! We saw the lack of pro-buy American legislation and pro-American manufacturing legislation coming out of congress, and we saw a need to give Americans a united voice behind a patriotic cause we all believed in. For these reasons, the non-profit Buy American Project was established.    U.S. releases millions to develop railways, create jobs Last week, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) released $336.2 million to five U.S. states to invest in American-made trains for their existing rail networks. All told, including previously awarded funds, California, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, and Washington will receive a combined $782 million to buy 33 quick-acceleration locomotives and 120 bi-level passenger cars, according to a DOT statement.    Honda recalls 2.5M vehicles worldwide for stalls, shifting problems Honda vehicles aren't the only thing stalling. Their sales are too, down 28% last month, while sales at GM, Ford, and Chrysler rose.    BAMW: The All-American mixing machine It’s difficult to buy American-made small kitchen appliances these days. That’s one reason that it’s refreshing to know that there are companies like Vitamix that make all of their blenders and other products in the United States at their world headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio.    Can Manufacturing Fuel a U.S. Recovery? See Roger Simmermaker's contribution to a New York Times 'Room for Debate' online forum.    US exports millions of chopsticks to China Georgia Chopsticks, based in the southern state of Georgia, is producing two million sets of the traditional eating utensils each day. They cost less than a penny each to make and are being sold in Chinese supermarkets.    New Balance struggles as last remaining major U.S. athletic shoemaker For decades, shoes coming in from China and Vietnam, the largest sources of imported footwear, have been hit with tariffs of as much as 20 percent or more. The company’s primary concern is that any free-trade agreement with Vietnam would likely eliminate the steep tariff on footwear imported from that country, making Vietnamese sneakers even cheaper than they already are. New Balance employees earn upward of $10 an hour, plus benefits, while labor costs in China are about $1.50 an hour, and even less in Vietnam.    Britney Spears, Beyonce and JLo Wearing High-End Gloves LaCrasia Gloves Co-Founders Jay Ruckel and LaCrasia Duchein on manufacturing high-end gloves.    GE tells American workers to go to hell, ‘First Arkansas News’ announces new series We’ve already heard from Roger Simmermaker of How Americans Can Buy American and we’ll hear from Don Rongione of American Made Matters in the next day or two about the economic impact of the loss of manufacturing jobs throughout the nation. Expect other articles to follow.    Viewpoint: Wind Power for the World, Made in USA Can American manufacturers, paying fair wages, abiding by environmental regulations and paying their fair share of U.S. taxes compete against Chinese-government backed companies determined to rule this alternative energy field?    Buying American? Simmermaker built his site around his book of the same title that is updated regularly and has grown to include links to American manufacturers, the place to sign up for an email list that touts American manufacturers and a journal of the author’s media appearances. Simmermaker said increased traffic to his site and others offering resources to those who want to purchase American-made goods and support U.S. companies is partially the result of people seeking out ways to do something that is increasingly difficult — buying goods made in the nation by domestic companies.    Study: St. Louisans Prefer American Made Cars CarGurus founder Langley Steinert says St. Louis finished right behind Detroit and ahead of Cleveland, in the number of people looking for American models, Detroit and St. Louis had about 67% of car shopping behavior focused on American brands.    Made in the USA focus at furniture store While many furniture stores are going out of business, Cronin hopes his dedication to selling American goods will help his business. About 80 to 85 percent of the inventory at the shop is made in the United States, he said.    BAMW: Saving America's Superpower Status Even though less that 10 percent of working Americans holds a factory job, which pales in comparison to nearly 33 percent half a century ago, the increasing and undeniable consensus is that American-made definitely matters.    BAMW: Made Here, Baby! One question I am asked fairly often is about how to find American-made clothes and other products for children, as it is often much easier to find items like clothes and shoes suited for adults than it is for children and teens that are made in the USA.    Surging China costs turn some U.S. makers homeward "I can manufacture combination locks in Milwaukee for less of a cost than I can in China," said Bob Rice, a senior vice president at the largest U.S. padlock manufacturer.    Of the 1%, by the 1%, for the 1% Americans have been watching protests against oppressive regime s that concentrate massive wealth in the hands of an elite few. Yet in our own democracy, 1 percent of the people take nearly a quarter of the nation’s income. In terms of wealth rather than income, the top 1 percent control 40 percent. Their lot in life has improved considerably. Twenty-five years ago, the corresponding figures were 12 percent and 33 percent.    Obama: We Need More Manufacturing Jobs The president's keen interest in making things is more than just smokestack nostalgia. Economist Jared Bernstein, who until recently led the administration's Middle Class Task Force, notes that pay and benefits in factory jobs average 20 percent higher than those in the service sector.    Labor Deals Help Fuel Rebound in Auto Jobs That Boost Economy GM is hiring nearly 4,000 people to fill shifts at its Hamtramck factory and two other Michigan plants. The company is also adding engineers at its Warren, Mich., technical center. In Hamtramck, where GM builds the Volt plug-in hybrid, City Manager William Cooper estimated the added hiring would bring $250,000 in extra revenue to the city, which was on the brink of bankruptcy a few months ago.    Lower-Tax Shores Draw U.S. Firms U.S. IPOs by companies incorporated in two tax havens—the Cayman Islands and Bermuda—have grown steadily in recent years, according to research firm Dealogic, from about 1% of the total a decade ago to 26% in 2010 and more than 21% so far this year. Luggage maker Samsonite, founded in Denver a century ago and more recently based in Massachusetts, is now incorporated in Luxembourg, the consequence of a 2007 takeover by private-equity firm CVC Capital Partners.    Made in the USA Hall of Fame Awards Celebrates Excellence in USA Manufacturing This event will take place at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, in Los Angeles, California on July 2, 2011, and celebrates businesses who exhibit excellence in US manufacturing practices and standards.    The GOP Myth of 'Job-Killing' Spending Large deficits, it is claimed, are creating huge uncertainties that are depressing business investment. But while real gross domestic product grew a paltry 2.3% over the last four quarters, business spending on equipment and software skyrocketed 14.7%. No doubt, there is lots of uncertainty. But investment is soaring anyway.    BAMW: Maintaining America's manufacturing might As patriotic Americans consider the ongoing and consistent trade deficits that have become so commonplace to America's economy, many wish our nation would do more to expand manufacturing across the country and return to the days when we actually exported more products than we imported.    Workers’ share of national income plummets to record low The chart jibes with other data, which show that since the 1980s, income for the richest 1 percent of Americans has exploded, while hardly budging at all for everyone else.    Korea free trade agreement will benefit North Korea Goods with up to 65 percent non-South Korean content can enter the United States with preferential, often duty free, treatment under this agreement. Nothing in this agreement prevents that foreign content from being North Korean.    Buy American Jobs Eight million American manufacturing workers have lost their jobs over the past 30 years as multi-national corporations off-shored factories. But America still manufactures and the prices of American-manufactured goods, including those made by union workers, are competitive with foreign-made products.    Made in USA: Overseas jobs come home According to Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Chinese labor costs are rising about 15% to 20% a year. That makes producing goods in China not nearly as cheap as it used to be. For many manufacturers, that narrowing is enough to tip the balance back to U.S. plants.    365 Barrington: Be Proud to BUY American at Norton's U.S.A. The stars and stripes are flying in Barrington and one local business is celebrating four years of supporting workers who make goods right here in America.    Senator Wants US Flags Made in America U.S. Sen Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio will introduce legislation that would make flags purchased by the Federal Government be entirely made in America.    Report urges U.S. tariff cuts to help poor consumers The United States collected about $26 billion in tariffs on about $1.9 trillion of imports in 2010, suggesting an average tariff rate of only 1.3 percent.    Jobs once in Mexico come to Kentucky When Ebonite bought the factory last year, it was in Mexico, employing 27 people; labor was cheaper. Company officials thought they could move all the equipment to Kentucky, apply the latest time and labor-saving techniques, and a dozen American workers could produce just as much.    ABC’s ‘Made in America’ helps sell American-made products The Vaughan-Bassett furniture company says they saw a 1,600% increase in inquiries and received more orders in two weeks than they had in 6 months. Another furniture company L.J. Gascho went from 35 to 60 employees because of an uptick in sales.    BAMW: Keeping America’s candle industry burning bright ... the best way to keep our American candle makers prospering in the face of potential crippling Chinese competition is to use the power of our pocketbooks and vote with our dollars to support American industries. It’s especially important in industries like the candle industry where cheap producers like China constantly seek loopholes to get around laws intended to protect domestic companies against such practices.    Wal-Mart: Our shoppers are 'running out of money' Wal-Mart has struggled with seven straight quarters of sales declines in its stores.    Smithsonian Opening ‘Made in America’ Store This Week “They are making some progress in getting American vendors to start selling to the Smithsonian. We've got a lot more work ahead of us, but I think we are making progress,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.    Lawmakers: Make U.S. souvenirs in U.S.A. On "The Early Show," CBS News Correspondent Michelle Miller shared the story of one small business owner who saw a sharp decline in profits when one very well-known American tourist spot turned to overseas manufacturers to stock its store shelves.    American muscle cars outselling fuel-thrifty hybrids despite $4 gas At a time when gasoline topped $4 a gallon in many cities, it's hard to imagine that road-eating big American muscle cars would top hybrids when it comes to sales. But that was the case last month. The combined sales of Ford Mustang, Dodge Challenger, and Chevrolet Camaro topped the total of environment-loving hybrids. Americans scarfed up 19,476 of the pony cars, Autodata figures show, compared with 17,852 hybrids, as totaled by Edmunds.com.    Blue-collar brands profit from 'Made in USA' tag "There is a customer that appreciates that the product is made in the US and is willing to pay for the difference," Brooks Brothers CEO Claudio Del Vecchio said in an interview. While Brooks Brothers made few goods in the US ten years ago, today a "large percentage" is American-made, he said.    WTO rules against U.S. COOL program A World Trade Organization panel has issued a preliminary ruling on the case that Canada and Mexico filed against the U.S. country-of-origin-labeling law, charging that the mandatory rule violates WTO trade standards.    BAMW: How to save Social Security and Medicare At the heart of the political debate these days is how to curb runaway budget deficits that have amassed a national debt of $14 trillion over the last three decades.    Can "Made in USA" survive in a global economy? Should it? Topps executives recently made the tough decision to renew their lease in New York City's Manhattan, a move that may cost more money but remains true to the company's American roots. "We decided that being an American company and being located in the heart of New York, where we've always been, made a lot of sense," O'Hara said.    Made in USA label worth the extra cost As the owner of a business with three products that could be made overseas for a lot less, we have chosen to take less profit and stick with the manufacturer (Specialty Sewing Senter) here in Yuma. Maybe that is a fiscally irresponsible or a dumb decision, but the Made in the USA label is too important to this Navy veteran.    Olsen Twins Lure Wealthy Shoppers With Made-in-America "There is a customer that appreciates that the product is made in the United States and is willing to pay for the difference," Brooks Brothers Chief Executive Officer Claudio Del Vecchio said in an interview. While Brooks Brothers made few goods in the U.S. 10 years ago, today a "large percentage" is American-made, he said.    Soft Star Launches New Minimalist Running Shoe Made in USA Each shoe is handcrafted to order in their solar-powered workshop in Oregon using locally sourced leathers and genuine Vibram soling products. Customers can choose their preferred soling thickness and design their own colors.    BAMW: How to have an All-American Memorial Day On Memorial Day, in addition to remembering American soldiers who gave their lives for their country, many Americans will be firing up their outdoor grills for what has become the traditional start of the grilling season.    We've painted ourselves into a globalism corner So, which is it? Is it great to buy American to keep what manufacturing we have left to supply our own military and employ Americans whose taxes help support the US military and national infrastructure? Or is it great to give away more of the farm to overseas nations that cheat America and to lobbyists and profiteers who assist them?    What if you had to buy American? Our homes would be stripped virtually bare of telephones, televisions, toasters and other electronics, and many of our favorite foods and toys would be gone, too.    Company that Congressman Issa (R-CA) founded underpaid tariffs The Vista car-alarm company once owned by Congressman Darrell Issa was paying about half the required tariffs on certain parts it imported from China for years and paid an estimated $2.5 million in back duties earlier this year to rectify the situation.    From China, an end run around U.S. tariffs In January 2005, the Commerce Department slapped import tariffs on Chinese-made beds, nightstands and related wares. Imports now account for about 70 percent of the U.S. market for beds and similar items, up from 58 percent before Washington intervened to try and protect domestic manufacturers from Chinese "dumping," or the export of goods at unfairly low prices.    US revokes tariffs on hot-rolled steel from Japan and Brazil, but not from Russia The US International Trade Commission on Thursday voted to lift tariffs on hot-rolled steel from Brazil and Japan following a 4-2 vote, saying that revoking the antidumping and countervailing duty orders for Japan and Brazil would not harm domestic steel producers. However, in a unanimous 6-0 vote, the ITC decided not to suspend antidumping duty orders on hot-rolled steel imports from Russia, saying it could lead to material injury to domestic producers.    MURPHY: There’s help if you want to buy American Vote With Your Wallet, the local group espousing a "buy-American-to-save America" philosophy, is ready to challenge the nation.    Q&A with Pin Li, President of Chicago-based subsidiary of the Chinese-owned Wanxiang America Corporation When we (the Chinese company operating in the U.S.) are in China we are competing with everybody. In the U.S. we become (through acquisition of American companies) the only one who can compete. When we (the Chinese company operating in the U.S.) take over here (in America) and we dial back into the sales system in china, we have American technology and Chinese sales.    GE To Open New Locomotive Plant in Texas GE Transportation announced today that it intends to open a new locomotive manufacturing facility in Fort Worth, Texas, to meet accelerating global demand. GE will invest up to $96 million in the new plant and will create more than 500 new high-tech manufacturing jobs which will expand its manufacturing workforce at its Erie, Pennsylvania, plant by hiring an additional 250 workers.    US rules imports harm Whirlpool’s business The US International Trade Commission voted 5 to 0 in Washington yesterday in a preliminary ruling on the petition by Whirlpool to get antidumping and countervailing duties imposed on so-called bottom-mount refrigerators made by Samsung Electronics Co. or LG Electronics Inc. in the two nations. The decision is the first of four the US company must win before tariffs of as much as 183 percent are imposed.    Whirlpool Harmed by Imports of Refrigerators, U.S. Rules "This unanimous decision by the ITC validates the action we've taken to protect our 23,000 U.S. employees and the communities in which they work," Jill Saletta, a spokeswoman for Whirlpool, said in a statement. Whirlpool, of Benton Harbor, Michigan, on March 30 said it was seeking dumping duties against Gyeonggi, South Korea-based Samsung and Seoul-based LG in South Korea of 33 percent to 62 percent. From Mexico the dumping duty would be as much as 183 percent.    Wal-Mart returns to 'Buy American' roots. Really? Wal-Mart's CEO, Mike Duke, shocked an industry gathering recently when he said a majority of the retailer's products are now made in the United States. Industry experts have their doubts. Wal-Mart's U.S. push is more likely a matter of the mix of the products it's selling and how Americans are shopping, industry observers say, than a sign that it's returning to its patriotic roots.    Can "Made in USA" survive in a global economy? Should it? Topps executives recently made the tough decision to renew their lease in New York City's Manhattan, a move that may cost more money but remains true to the company's American roots. "We decided that being an American company and being located in the heart of New York, where we've always been, made a lot of sense," O'Hara said.    Made in USA label worth the extra cost As the owner of a business with three products that could be made overseas for a lot less, we have chosen to take less profit and stick with the manufacturer (Specialty Sewing Senter) here in Yuma. Maybe that is a fiscally irresponsible or a dumb decision, but the Made in the USA label is too important to this Navy veteran.    Olsen Twins Lure Wealthy Shoppers With Made-in-America "There is a customer that appreciates that the product is made in the United States and is willing to pay for the difference," Brooks Brothers Chief Executive Officer Claudio Del Vecchio said in an interview. While Brooks Brothers made few goods in the U.S. 10 years ago, today a "large percentage" is American-made, he said.    Soft Star Launches New Minimalist Running Shoe Made in USA Each shoe is handcrafted to order in their solar-powered workshop in Oregon using locally sourced leathers and genuine Vibram soling products. Customers can choose their preferred soling thickness and design their own colors.    BAMW: How to have an All-American Memorial Day On Memorial Day, in addition to remembering American soldiers who gave their lives for their country, many Americans will be firing up their outdoor grills for what has become the traditional start of the grilling season.    We've painted ourselves into a globalism corner So, which is it? Is it great to buy American to keep what manufacturing we have left to supply our own military and employ Americans whose taxes help support the US military and national infrastructure? Or is it great to give away more of the farm to overseas nations that cheat America and to lobbyists and profiteers who assist them?    What if you had to buy American? Our homes would be stripped virtually bare of telephones, televisions, toasters and other electronics, and many of our favorite foods and toys would be gone, too.    Company that Congressman Issa (R-CA) founded underpaid tariffs The Vista car-alarm company once owned by Congressman Darrell Issa was paying about half the required tariffs on certain parts it imported from China for years and paid an estimated $2.5 million in back duties earlier this year to rectify the situation.    From China, an end run around U.S. tariffs In January 2005, the Commerce Department slapped import tariffs on Chinese-made beds, nightstands and related wares. Imports now account for about 70 percent of the U.S. market for beds and similar items, up from 58 percent before Washington intervened to try and protect domestic manufacturers from Chinese "dumping," or the export of goods at unfairly low prices.    US revokes tariffs on hot-rolled steel from Japan and Brazil, but not from Russia The US International Trade Commission on Thursday voted to lift tariffs on hot-rolled steel from Brazil and Japan following a 4-2 vote, saying that revoking the antidumping and countervailing duty orders for Japan and Brazil would not harm domestic steel producers. However, in a unanimous 6-0 vote, the ITC decided not to suspend antidumping duty orders on hot-rolled steel imports from Russia, saying it could lead to material injury to domestic producers.    MURPHY: There’s help if you want to buy American Vote With Your Wallet, the local group espousing a "buy-American-to-save America" philosophy, is ready to challenge the nation.    Q&A with Pin Li, President of Chicago-based subsidiary of the Chinese-owned Wanxiang America Corporation When we (the Chinese company operating in the U.S.) are in China we are competing with everybody. In the U.S. we become (through acquisition of American companies) the only one who can compete. When we (the Chinese company operating in the U.S.) take over here (in America) and we dial back into the sales system in china, we have American technology and Chinese sales.    GE To Open New Locomotive Plant in Texas GE Transportation announced today that it intends to open a new locomotive manufacturing facility in Fort Worth, Texas, to meet accelerating global demand. GE will invest up to $96 million in the new plant and will create more than 500 new high-tech manufacturing jobs which will expand its manufacturing workforce at its Erie, Pennsylvania, plant by hiring an additional 250 workers.    US rules imports harm Whirlpool’s business The US International Trade Commission voted 5 to 0 in Washington yesterday in a preliminary ruling on the petition by Whirlpool to get antidumping and countervailing duties imposed on so-called bottom-mount refrigerators made by Samsung Electronics Co. or LG Electronics Inc. in the two nations. The decision is the first of four the US company must win before tariffs of as much as 183 percent are imposed.    Whirlpool Harmed by Imports of Refrigerators, U.S. Rules "This unanimous decision by the ITC validates the action we've taken to protect our 23,000 U.S. employees and the communities in which they work," Jill Saletta, a spokeswoman for Whirlpool, said in a statement. Whirlpool, of Benton Harbor, Michigan, on March 30 said it was seeking dumping duties against Gyeonggi, South Korea-based Samsung and Seoul-based LG in South Korea of 33 percent to 62 percent. From Mexico the dumping duty would be as much as 183 percent.    Wal-Mart returns to 'Buy American' roots. Really? Wal-Mart's CEO, Mike Duke, shocked an industry gathering recently when he said a majority of the retailer's products are now made in the United States. Industry experts have their doubts. Wal-Mart's U.S. push is more likely a matter of the mix of the products it's selling and how Americans are shopping, industry observers say, than a sign that it's returning to its patriotic roots.    BAMW: Re-Making the U.S. Economy The average American doesn't need to take a seriously dedicated look at the U.S. economy to know we as a country face formidable challenges.    'Made in the U.S.A.' may be staging comeback The next few years will bring a wave of reinvestment by U.S. multinational manufacturers in their home base, as rising wages and a strong yuan currency make China a less attractive production center, the paper by the Boston Consulting Group predicts.    US slaps anti-subsidy duty on Chinese wood flooring The U.S. Commerce Department said on Tuesday it had set preliminary duties of up to 27.01 percent on multilayered wood flooring from China to offset alleged government subsidies.    BAMW: Stick with American companies for an American kitchen Consumers often tend to think more about buying American when they are about to make a big ticket item purchase than they do when making smaller purchases, and for good reason.    Manufacturing your products in the USA; Hasbro steps up with a domestic contract manufacturing service Russ Davies of Hasbro is heading up that company’s efforts to bring O.E.M. game manufacturing back to the U.S. by opening one of their factories to contract manufacturing.    "Made In America" Making A Comeback At Furniture Market According to the American Home Furnishings Alliance, 60% of all upholstery sold in the U.S. is made in the U.S., and about 35% of all of the wood furniture sold in the U.S. is made in America.    Lawmaker wants made-in-America U.S. flags "American flags should be made in America using American products - period," said the Iowa Democrat. "A lot of people in Congress pay lip service to the American worker and the quality of goods they produce, but we see little action to back it up."    GE to build massive thin-film U.S. solar plant GE said that its new plant, when complete, will be able to produce 400 megawatts worth of thin-film solar cells per year and employ 400 people. That would make it one of the largest thin-film solar manufacturing presences in the U.S. The U.S. solar market grew 67 percent between 2009 and 2010 and is now a $6 billion market, according to a recent report from Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and GTM Research.    BAMW: ABC World News and the Buy American Home Inspection If you're a fan of buying American, you've probably heard about or seen the ABC World News 'Made in America' series.    BAMW: Firming up American furniture factories It's no secret that the housing market is one of the hardest hit by the economic downturn. So you would think that the American furniture industry would simply follow the housing industry into the tank, and although in some cases it has, it doesn't have to be that way if we know where to shop and which furniture brands to buy.    Smithsonian opening a 'Made in America' gift shop But in a change prompted by congressional pressure, Americans visiting the American History Museum will soon be able to "Buy American." The Smithsonian Institution is planning to stock the shelves of a gift shop adjacent to its popular American presidents exhibit with goods only made in the United States.    General Mills Buying 50% Stake in Yoplait General Mills (GIS) has entered into exclusive talks with French private equity group PAI Partners and French dairy cooperative Sodiaal SA to buy a 50% stake in the entity which owns yogurt-maker Yoplait SAS and affiliated companies. As part of that offer, General Mills would take a controlling stake in the operating company.    1888 Mills touts USA-made towels "We're getting a lot of interest from retailers for our Made in USA goods because we're the only ones left, really."    Bill requires Smithsonian museum to 'Buy American' "It is utterly absurd, and frankly insulting, that the patriotic American mementos they are taking home today are stamped with the words 'Made in China,'" said Rep. Nick J. Rahall II, West Virginia Democrat, in a statement Thursday announcing his "Buy American at the Smithsonian Act."    ABC's 'Made in America' series Author Roger Simmermaker says, "Supporting American companies leads to a more independent America. Ownership equals control, and control equals independence. We cannot claim to be an independent country or control our own destiny if our manufacturing base is under foreign ownership or foreign control. A nation that cannot supply its own needs is not an independent nation."    New York producers pushing to define what is honey China has been finding ways around the tariffs law by labeling honey as a different type of sweetener, importing it through other countries (a practice known as honey laundering) or by setting up shell companies that go out of business once duties come due. So far, Florida, California, Wisconsin and North Carolina have set standards under law. Two dozen other states have legislation pending.    U.S. Plans for Trade Are Stalled House Republicans in February blocked a big expansion of trade adjustment assistance - which provides cash, training, relocation, job search and other benefits to workers displaced by globalization - from being renewed. Many of the 220,000 workers who took part in the program last year could have their benefits reduced as a result.    BAMW: An American industry worth saving Does America have a national manufacturing capital?    BAMW: Familiar brands aren't always American brands Consumers often make a habit, and understandably so, of patronizing products with which they are familiar.    Honda recalls defective cars Honda said yesterday it was recalling nearly 700000 vehicles worldwide because of defective parts that could stall the engine and cause problems restarting it in certain models.    Intelligence Community Fears U.S. Manufacturing Decline Over the last ten years, China has mounted the biggest challenge to the U.S. manufacturing sector ever seen, threatening producers of steel, chemicals, glass, paper, drugs and any number of other items with prices they cannot match. Not coincidentally, the United States has lost an average of 50,000 manufacturing jobs every month during the same period.    Store Closing After 55 Years; Sold Only Made In USA Furniture Menet's was built on the tradition of selling American made furniture, but Ronald said he believes that also led to the business's demise. "I was too proud selling American product," he said. "I regret that."    Potential NYSE, Deutsche Borse deal causes concern The merged company would be incorporated in the Netherlands and divide its headquarters between New York and Frankfurt.    Donald Trump at CPAC Despite our supposed free-trade agreement, not only has Mexico started manipulating exchange rates, but it also has placed a 25% duty on U.S. cheese, a 20% duty on U.S. wine, 15% duties on U.S. fruit and fruit juices, 15% duties on U.S. pencils and pens, 10% d uties on U.S. shampoo, hair spray, tooth paste and deodorant, and 10% duties on U.S. dog and cat food.    BAMW: California’s Kwikset lesson: Don’t lie about "American made" Back in October 2009, I wrote a "Buy American Mention of the Week" detailing the potential danger to the integrity of the "Made in U.S.A." label, which depended heavily on a future California Supreme Court ruling concerning Kwikset Corp.    Court In SF Rules That "Made In U.S.A." Lies Can Get You Sued Four Southern California residents won the right from the California Supreme Court today to sue a lock company for allegedly falsely labeling its locks as "Made in U.S.A."    Emerging market companies buy up the world The 100 "global challengers" come from 16 countries but China, India, Brazil, Mexico and Russia dominate the list. "What the U.S. and the UK accomplished in a 200-year span since the Industrial Revolution, we are going to watch China and India accomplish in a 30-year span," says Jim Quigley, CEO of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.    Manufacturing Is Vital Component To U.S. Economy Basically, they (Germany) say manufacturing is a very vital part of my economy. I t employs my people; it pays them great wages. So they have a country strategy. They approach it as a country. Now, those of us who are free marketeers would say, well, gee, you know, that's government interference. Well, I don't see that as government interference. I see that as the public sector establishing the rules of the road such that the private sector knows what those rules are and therefore, we can compete.    U.S.-China $6.6 billion soybean deal benefits Minnesota According to 2009 data MDA, soybeans account for 61 percent of the U.S. agricultural exports to China, followed by a small percentage of red meat (4 percent), poultry (3 percent) and dairy products (1 percent).    Some 57,000 Minnesota jobs at risk under proposed Korean trade pact The U.S. International Trade Commission, the independent federal agency tasked with estimating the likely economic effects of trade agreements, predicts that implementation of the Korea FTA would lead to an increase in the overall U.S. goods trade deficit of between $308 million and $416 million.    Another huge Toyota recall includes Lexus IS, GS in U.S. Toyota announced another massive global recall today: Nearly 1.7 million cars -- including Lexus IS and GS sedans in the U.S. -- for two fuel leak problems.    Foreign investment…Chinese style BAMW: Both Democrats and Republicans have long heralded foreign investment in the United States as a net positive for the United States.    Master Lock reassessing China In a new twist, however, it's China where Master Lock's costs are rising disruptively. The company has responded by pulling production back to Milwaukee, where the manufacturer of iconic padlocks was founded in 1921.    Buy American on Fox Tampa Bay American-made products: To buy or not to buy    Eleven easy ways to buy American in 2011 Some the easiest - and most inexpensive - ways to buy American are in areas where the consumer is really indifferent as to which product to buy.    National Export Initiative, part II: Will it work? Roger Simmermaker, author of How Americans Can Buy American, doesn't think so. In his "Buy American Mention of the Week" of April 14, 2010, he said, "We cannot expect other countries to surrender their markets to us simply because we have stupidly surrendered our market to them…We've been giving foreign producers production-cost advantages over our own producers for at least 35 years now, and we can't expect them to start 'playing nice' with us and let us invade their markets to the tune of doubling our exports."    Pentagon Must 'Buy American,' Barring Chinese Solar Panels The military authorization law signed by President Obama on Friday contains a little-noticed "Buy American" provision for the Defense Department purchases of solar panels — a provision that is likely to dismay Chinese officials as President Hu Jintao prepares to visit the United States next week. The new Buy American provision, created mainly by House and Senate conferees during a flurry of activity at the end of the lame-duck session of Congress, prevents the Defense Department from buying Chinese-made solar panels.    BAMW: Eleven easy ways to buy American in 2011 Consumers are seemingly more sensitive to buying American around the holidays than most other times during the year.    BAMW: The Chinese are coming I don't normally make predictions myself, but I'll venture out on a limb and make this one: 2011 will be the year that China makes a major attempt to buy American assets with money that used to be ours.    BAMW: How Americans Can Buy American is now available on Kindle and other e-readers Now you can take How Americans Can Buy American with you wherever you go!    Is Buying An American Car Trendy? Poll Shows Uptick In Patriotic Sentiment Roger Simmermaker, the author of "How Americans Can Buy American," told AOL Autos that to buy an American car, "consumers need to consider more than just buying one made in the U.S.A. To truly buy American, we need to buy an American-made car from an American-owned company -- GM, Ford or Chrysler -- with a high domestic parts-content. The ownership of a company matters because American companies have more factories in America, pay more taxes to America, get more of their parts from America, and support more workers, retirees and their dependents in America," he says.    BAMW: Buy American! shirt sale…get a FREE BOOK For a very limited time, buy any two "Buy American!" shirts and get a FREE copy of the third edition of How Americans Can Buy American: The Power of Consumer Patriotism!    Free Trade Doesn't Work: Interview with Economist Ian Fletcher Libertarians simply don't know their history. Take out a $10 bill and have a look at the portrait on it. Alexander Hamilton, founding father and intellectual architect of American capitalism, was a protectionist, and protectionism was American policy from Independence until after WWII.    BAMW: Signed, sealed, and certified 'Made in USA' We've all heard the media continue to report on the dangers of product recalls - courtesy of foreign countries - like dog food, drywall, toys, vitamins, milk, and lead paint.    Free Trade Treasure and a Buy American Christmas Carol Roger Simmemaker's "How Americans can Buy American" would also be a great gift along with Ian Fletcher's "Free Trade Doesn't Work" for the patriot in your circle. You could wrap it in red paper, blue bow and white ribbon to boot! Just one item can make a huge difference around the nation. Every journey begins with one step, but collectively we can travel more miles together and get to our destination less weary.    Toyota to fix 380,000 Priuses in North America Toyota Motor Co. has announced a "limited service campaign" to fix cooling pumps on 378,000 Toyota Prius hybrid cars in North America. Air can leak into water pumps that cool parts of the electric drive systems on model year 2004 through 2007 Priuses. Excess air in the cooling system can allow bubbles to form which can, in turn, inhibit cooling.    American-made toy has a leg up on Legos There's a great toy out there that is challenging and fun (for families and children), educational (for students and teachers), and is also affordable and requires no batteries. The name of this toy starts with an "L" but it's not Legos. It's a great new toy called Lockrobots!    Ford media blitz to target Korea trade Ford Motor Co. notes that Korea will export more than 500,000 vehicles to the United States this year, while U.S. vehicle exports to Korea in 2010 are likely to total fewer than 7,500. "If the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement isn't fixed, it would allow Korea to remain one of the most closed automotive markets in the world," a Ford ad says. Last year, about 7,600 U.S.-built vehicles were purchased in Korea, versus more than 411,000 exported to the U.S. Through August, the U.S. auto sector trade deficit with Korea was $6.8 billion, up from $4.8 billion over the same period in 2009.    Now Congress to purchase 'Made in America' goods U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur’s (D-OH) bill, H.R. 2039, the Congressional Made in America Promise Act, passed in the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 371-36. The bill will extend Buy American Act requirements for federal agencies to apply to the legislative branch and aims to ensure that all of the products purchased by the U.S. House of Representatives and the United States Senate are American-made.    BAMW: American-made professional apparel from New York City, USA These days, there’s little denying that health care is one of the biggest industries in America. But with that indisputable fact comes an opportunity to create many more American jobs in ways most people have probably never really given much thought.    Clothing company traces 'jeaneology' All American Clothing has become the first company in America to offer "traceability," what some are referring to as "jeaneology": every pair of their jeans comes with a number that, when entered on their website, will take the viewer back to the place where the cotton was grown, where it was turned into cloth, where it was cut and sewn, and finally where it is stored before being, and all of it is right here in America.    China Beginning U.S. Auto Takeover In Saginaw? In July, General Motors and Pacific Century Motors announced they reached an agreement for GM to sell GM Global Steering Holdings LLC, commonly known as Nexteer, to PCM. Now, months later, the transaction is nearing final approval -- making the China-based company the largest private employer in Saginaw County.    China's clout squeezes small businesses Small Texas manufacturers are having a tough time competing with China. "They'll take lower quality leather and pay premium prices for it, and just go in and buy all the production, which jumps the price up," said Bill Yonavich, founder of custom furniture maker Austin Ranch. "That's caused a pretty good change just in the last six months of 30, 40 cents per square foot – a 15 to 20 percent increase," he said.    Public Support for Increased Trade, Except With South Korea and China Most Americans say that increased trade with Canada, Japan and European Union countries – as well as India, Brazil and Mexico – would be good for the United States. But reactions are mixed to increased trade with South Korea and China. More generally, there is increased skepticism about the impact of trade agreements such as NAFTA and the policies of the World Trade Organization. Roughly a third (35%) say that free trade agreements have been good for the United States, while 44% say they have been bad for the U.S.    Video: Fox Business host again decries GM bailout, Virg Bernero goes all angriest mayor in response. A week after America's angriest mayor suffered a bruising defeat in the Michigan governor's race, he stoked his boilers again and took on Fox Business provocateur Eric Bolling.    No new free trade agreement reached between U.S. and South Korea "While there are other unresolved issues, nowhere is this more evident than in the dangerously lopsided trade in automotive vehicles," the two said. "In 2009 alone, South Korea exported more than 476,000 autos to the U.S. while fewer than 6,000 U.S. vehicles managed to get through Korean trade barriers."    BAMW: The best American-made alternative to Chinese-made Lincoln Logs The traditions of true American craftsmen in this country have been part of our history that dates all the way back to the founding of our nation. This pride of making things in America is consistent with historical American qualities such as independence, self-reliance, and self-sufficiency.    Waving the Flag Who says Congress can’t get its work done? On Sept. 30, the House of Representatives passed the All-American Flag Act on an enthusiastic, bipartisan (we assume) voice vote. If the Senate steps up, the federal government will be required by law to buy only flags entirely made in the U.S.A., down to the last fiber. The legislation closes a loophole in the Buy American Act of 1933, which, with some exceptions, requires the federal government to buy American-made things but allows flags with up to 50 percent foreign content to be classified as domestic-made. According to the Department of Commerce, China exported $2.5 million worth of American flags to the United States last year.    INTERVIEW-Nissan says needs 5 years of subsidies for EVs Nissan, which is introducing its Leaf all-electric car in December, needs government incentives to trigger volume so it can bring down the cost of the car, said Carlos Tavares, Nissan's executive vice president and head of U.S. operations. U.S. taxpayers who buy electric cars currently qualify for a federal tax credit of $7,500. States, including California, offer additional tax incentives.    The End of Free-Trade Globalization US corporations and banks remain free to move jobs and production whenever and wherever corporate strategy dictates, regardless of the consequences for the economy. Government can stop this by forcing them to serve the broader national interest. This is not as radical as it may sound. Every other leading industrial nation does it, one way or another.    18 Iconic Products That America Doesn't Make Anymore Meanwhile, plenty of beer is still made here, but many of America’s most-iconic beer brands, including Miller, Coors, and Budweiser, are owned by foreign companies. In 2008, Anheuser-Busch, the St. Louis-based company that has a nearly 50 percent market share in the U.S., was sold to InBev, a Belgium-based conglomerate run by Brazilian executives.    BAMW: How to buy American for your All-American Baby Now that Halloween is past and Christmas inches closer (have you noticed most stores already have their Christmas decorations out?) you'll probably start thinking about the friends, family and loved ones on your list and what they might like to see under the Christmas tree.    The Free Trade Trap Free trade sounds nice. Protectionism sounds ugly. Free trade sounds capitalist. Protectionism sounds Marxist. So it is worthy of note that free trade was actually viewed by Karl Marx as a strategic force, a tool with which to undermine capitalism as an economic model: "But, in general, the protective system of our day is conservative, while the free trade system is destructive. It breaks up old nationalities and pushes the antagonism of the proletariat and the bourgeoisie to the extreme point. In a word, the free trade system hastens the social revolution. It is in this revolutionary sense alone, gentlemen that I vote in favor of free trade."    Toyota, Honda recall U.S. vehicles for brake problem Toyota is recalling 740,000 vehicles sold in the United States because of potentially unsafe brakes, adding to the automaker's 2010 recall woes. Meanwhile, Honda spokeswoman Christina Ra confirmed that the automaker is preparing to alert U.S. safety regulators Thursday of an impending recall. The recall will cover Acura RL and Honda Odyssey models from 2005, 2006 and 2007. Ra did not say how many vehicles will be recalled, but she did say the recall stems from problems similar to those behind the Toyota recall.    BAMW: How to have a 'Made in USA' Halloween Holiday Halloween is creeping up on us, and many Americans soon will make final purchases for things like decorations, costumes, and candy to make it a fun holiday for kids and grown ups too.    For Our China Trade Emergency, Dial Section 301 TEN years ago this fall the Senate sold out American manufacturing. By a vote of 83 to 15, it established so-called permanent normal trade relations with China, paving the way for that country to join the World Trade Organization. Today, though, our trade relations with China are anything but normal. The 2000 agreement’s proponents insisted it would enable a billion Chinese consumers to buy American products. Instead, our bilateral trade deficit has increased 170 percent, largely because China has undermined free-market competition through illegal subsidies and currency manipulation.    BAMW: Here's proof import tariffs save and create American jobs There's been a long standing debate as to whether import tariffs are useful in either saving or creating American jobs.    53% in US Say Free Trade Hurts Nation: NBC/WSJ Poll 69 percent of Americans believe free trade agreements with other countries have cost jobs in the United States. 65 percent of union members and 61 percent of Tea Party sympathizers say free trade has hurt the U.S.    House votes to pressure China over yuan Lawmakers vote 348 to 79 to open the way for the U.S. to slap tariffs on Chinese goods.    Senate Dems try to punish firms that export jobs The bill would exempt companies that import jobs from paying the 6.2 percent Social Security payroll tax for new U.S. employees who replace overseas workers who had been doing similar work. The two-year exemption would be available for workers hired over the next three years. The tax cut - estimated to cost about $1 billion - would be partially offset by tax increases on companies that move jobs overseas. The bill would prohibit firms from taking deductions for business expenses associated with expanding operations in other countries. It would increase taxes on U.S. companies that close domestic operations and expand foreign ones to import products to the U.S.    BAMW: Sending truly American greetings Perhaps one of the consumer areas that proves the popular refrain "free trade and cheaper imports always result in lower prices for consumers" is an obvious, outright lie is the seemingly innocent area of greeting cards.    Hyundai Sonata Recall The Hyundai Motor Company recently announced a recall of their 2011 Hyundai Sonata, due to a potentially serious fault associated with the steering system of the vehicle. This recall affects an estimated 139,500 Hyundai Sonata vehicles, which were manufactured between the dates of December 11, 2009 and September 10, 2010.    BAMW: Call to action! Free Trade Doesn't Work: What Should Replace it and Why belongs in Barnes & Noble bookstores! In my last "Buy American Mention of the Week" on 9-17-10, I wrote about a great new book titled Free Trade Doesn't Work: What Should Replace it and Why by Ian Fletcher, which is available in my USA Shop for $19.95.    BAMW: Why Free Trade Doesn't Work for America Every now and then I come across a book I like enough to review since I think should be in the hands of every American and every member of congress    Chinese automaker SAIC may buy General Motors stock And you were worried about the American government's stake in GM was bad? How about the Chinese government?    Defazio defends American jobs; secures house vote on trade next week Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Springfield) today announced that the House of Representatives will vote on his bill, H.R. 1875, the End the Trade Deficit Act, next week. DeFazio is part of a coalition that has been working with the House leadership to develop the 'Make it in America' manufacturing initiative to rebuild America’s manufacturing base and bring and keep good value jobs here at home.    Kissell 'Buy American' bill passes House H.R. 3116, the Berry Amendment Extension Act, permanently requires the Department of Homeland Security and all of its agencies to purchase and procure textiles made entirely in America. The bill passed the House unanimously.    Hare-backed 'Buy American' bill passes House The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday by a 371 to 36 vote expanding Buy American requirements to the legislative branch. The Senate still needs to act. The Buy American Act is the country's major domestic preference, and the expansion will cover materials used in Congress. The House also passed an amendment Wednesday that expands domestic preference legislation to the Department of Homeland Security on products such as food and clothing.    7-Eleven in Talks to Acquire Casey’s It looks like the American-owned Casey’s convenience-store chain will either be bought by the Japanese or the Canadians. Japanese–owned 7-Eleven's offer tops the $38.50 per share offered by Canadian c-store firm Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., which has been trying to acquire Casey's in a hostile takeover attempt, the report noted.    'Made in America' Means Something Again If there were any doubts about reports that the American auto industry is on the mend, they were laid to rest today with the release of J.D. Power and Associates' 2010 Initial Quality Study (IQS). Domestic brands, as a whole, demonstrated higher initial quality than the imports for the first time in the study's 24-year history.    Chinese turbine makers to buy steel from U.S. for West Texas wind farm Chinese makers of turbines for a West Texas wind farm agreed to buy steel from U.S. producers after lawmakers objected to foreign production of the equipment.    BAMW: The American-made Retail E-guide is here! It's been over a year since I announced the intention to build an American-made Retail E-guide, but the long-awaited pdf database is finally here.    Making Patriotic Choices To Save The Economy It's time for all Americans to remember that patriotism is about more than fighting abroad. It's also about fighting for ourselves, our neighbors and our communities here in the United States. It's time for economic patriotism.    Toyota Recalls 1.13 million 2005-08 model Toyota Corolla and Toyota Matrix Vehicles The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had opened an investigation in the vehicles in November, after it received 163 complaints, including six crashes, about engines stalling in the cars. On Aug. 18, NHTSA upgraded its investigation of the defect to an engineering analysis, after which a recall would have been imminent.    U.S. Spends, China Benefits Congress's border fence with Mexico is built with--you guessed it--Chinese steel.    Toledo Blade letter to the editor: It's easy to buy American goods The writer of the Aug. 13 "Define 'buying American'" Readers' Forum letter, and anyone else who seeks clarity on what it means to buy American, would do well to educate themselves on the matter by reading the book How Americans can Buy American: The Power of Consumer Patriotism by Roger Simmermaker.    Ford, GM Brands Top Customer Satisfaction – Study One year after chaos engulfed the U.S. auto industry, American consumers say cars built by Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Co. are the tops when it comes to vehicle satisfaction. Ford's Lincoln-Mercury and GM's Buick brands took the No. 1 and No. 2 spots, respectively, in the American Customer Satisfaction Index released Tuesday. Lincoln-Mercury had an 89% customer satisfaction average while Buick was 88%. This was the first time U.S. auto makers have held the two top spots in the survey. BMW, Cadillac and Mercedes-Benz all finished together with an 86% average.    Probe begins after complaint of Kia steering wheel falling off The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said an owner of a 2010 Kia Soul reported that the steering shaft decoupled from the steering wheel as the vehicle was being driven, resulting in a complete loss of control.    Wal-Mart Quietly Raises Prices Wal-Mart Stores, which for years has touted its prowess at lowering prices, has been doing the opposite as it tries to bolster its bottom line amid stagnating sales. A JPMorgan Chase study of a Walmart Supercenter in Virginia found that the world's largest retailer has raised prices by nearly 6% on average over the past six weeks, according to the New York Post.    How to jump-start American manufacturing President Obama observed last week that the U.S. manufacturing sector has "been hit hard for as long as folks can remember." In fact, the last time so few Americans worked in manufacturing was April 1941. Since the Great Recession began in December 2007, America has lost 16 percent of its manufacturing payroll jobs. While there has been a slight uptick in manufacturing jobs in the last seven months, only 11.7 million Americans work in this sector, down from 17.3 million 10 years ago. That's barely 9 percent of total U.S. nonfarm payroll jobs. More Americans now work in the leisure and hospitality industry.    Show-Me State Shows How to Subsidize Chinese Manufacturing Plants in US Value of China-based Mamtek International's investment in new sweetener factory in Moberly, Missouri: $46 million; Value of investment in this factory by other private parties: $8 million; Subsidies given to this project by State of Missouri and town of Moberly: $55.086 million    China admits only foreigners hit by anti-trust law China acknowledged Thursday that only foreign companies have been forced to scrap or change business deals under its two-year-old anti-monopoly law but rejected complaints the measure is discriminatory.    Trade Deficit Slows Recovery The trade deficit is a huge drag on economic recovery and jobs creation. In the second quarter overall, the imports grew so much more rapidly than exports that the growing trade gap subtracted 2.8 percent from growth.    BAMW: Chinese bad news equals American status quo What happens with the Chinese economy and more specifically Chinese manufacturing in the near future will have big implications for the United States and the broader global economy.    Ford says its UAW deals are bringing back overseas jobs Competitive contracts with the United Auto Workers union are helping Ford bring back to its factories nearly 2,000 jobs that would have gone to parts companies — some in other countries, the company said Wednesday. The automaker said the 2007 union master contract allows it to hire workers at $14 an hour, about half the hourly rate of current workers. Factory-level contracts have also changed work rules to make plants more efficient.    Some manufacturing heads back to USA Faced with rising costs, General Electric is moving production of its new energy-efficient water heater halfway around the world. The country it's leaving? China. The one it's bringing 400 jobs and a newly renovated factory? The United States. Ford Motor said Wednesday that it's bringing nearly 2,000 jobs to its U.S. plants by 2012 from suppliers, including those in Japan, Mexico and India.    Chinese firm to buy U.S. steel for Texas wind farm project Chinese makers of turbines for a West Texas wind farm agreed to buy steel from U.S. producers after lawmakers objected to foreign production of the equipment.    BAMW: Special Summer Savings In an economy often overrun with imports and cheap, Chinese knockoffs of authentic American products, it's always a special act of patriotism to Buy American while there is still American left to buy, and to help ensure that there always will be.    Pelosi: Manufacturing Strategy Reaffirms When We 'Make It In America,' We Create Jobs and Lead World Economy Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today after House Democrats rolled out "Make It In America," a new strategy to create new high-skill, high-wage American manufacturing jobs and restore U.S. leadership in the global economy...    Wolf: Send work back to U.S. Tenth District Rep. Frank R. Wolf plans to introduce legislation next week to encourage American companies with manufacturing or call-center operations overseas to bring those jobs back home. Wolf's "Strategic Manufacturing & Job Repatriation Act" would align federal funding to support U.S. manufacturing growth, study a new federal tax incentive to promote job repatriation and bolster American intellectual property protections.    Make it in America (Rep. Steny Hoyer) Democrats are launching the "Make it in America" agenda: a manufacturing strategy based on the idea that when more products are made in America, more people will be able to make it in America. The "Make it in America" agenda will create incentives for investment in industry, strengthen manufacturing infrastructure and innovation, and help to level the playing field for American companies that compete globally.    BAMW: Ending foreign economic dependence Buying American is more than just about economic patriotism; it's about traditions rooted and grounded with other American values established by the Founding Fathers of our country like self-sufficiency, self-reliance, and independence.    Rahm Emanuel says the President's big theme will be "Made in America." In coming weeks, the president will expand his push to create clean-energy jobs to include more traditional industries such as automobiles and railroads. "Made in America" will become the "big theme," Mr. Emanuel said.    BAMW: Lifetime-lasting American accessories for your home The strength and success of American capitalism and entrepreneurship is often defined as that which is limited only by American imagination, innovation, and ingenuity.    BAMW: Furniture for your home starts at Florida-based Home Furniture If you've been shopping for furniture lately, you probably know just how difficult it is to find quality furniture made by fellow Americans these days.    Meridian buys Cleantech America to Expand in Solar Meridian Energy Ltd., the biggest New Zealand electricity producer, has agreed to buy solar power developer Cleantech America Inc. to expand into renewable electricity generation in the U.S. Government-owned Meridian, which operates New Zealand’s largest hydroelectric dams, paid $5.4 million for Cleantech and a five megawatt photovoltaic solar facility the San Francisco- based company is building in Mendota, California.    Solar Millennium AG: US Solar Power plant projects proceed to next stage in approval procedure Two German firms – solar thermal company Solar Millennium and plant construction firm MAN Ferrostaal – have formed a joint venture, Solar Trust of America, LLC, to develop, construct and finance large-scale, concentrated solar power (CSP) plants in the Southwestern United States.    Obama Announces Loan Guarantees for Solar Firms Abengoa, Abound "We're going to keep competing aggressively to make sure the jobs and industries of the future are taking root right here in America," Obama said. Abound Solar, a closely held company based in Loveland, Colorado, will receive a $400 million loan guarantee to expand a solar-panel manufacturing plant in Longmont, Colorado, and to open a new plant in Tipton, Indiana. The two plants will employ about 1,500 people, according to the White House documents.    China's solar making gains in West Chinese solar industry companies have already played a major role in lowering the cost of solar panels by almost half over the last year, The New York Times reports. In an effort to boost market share, China's largest solar panel manufacturer, Suntech, is selling solar panels in the United States at below the cost of materials, assembly and shipping, Shi Zhengrong, the company's chief executive and founder, told the Times. Solar companies in the West, meanwhile, are facing a tough time competing with their Chinese counterparts, which benefit from lower operating costs and government support.    Obama announces Abound Solar growth; 3,500 jobs tied to Northern Colorado company's expansion Northern Colorado's Abound Solar will receive a $400 million federal loan guarantee that will allow the company to expand its manufacturing of thin-film solar panels and create thousands of jobs in Northern Colorado and Indiana, President Barack Obama announced this morning in his weekly broadcast address. Abound, which was created as AVA Solar at Colorado State University, "will manufacture advanced solar panels at two new plants, creating more than 2,000 construction jobs and 1,500 permanent jobs," Obama said in his address. "A Colorado plant is already under way, and an Indiana plant will be built in what's now an empty Chrysler factory. When fully operational, these plants will produce millions of state-of-the-art solar panels each year," Obama said in the address.    China & Taiwan Market Share for Solar Cells: impact on U.S. As published in this template source article, amid the aggressive ramping up of solar production in China and Taiwan, who collectively own approximately 50 percent of the market share, the U.S. may simply be: exchanging its dependence on foreign oil- for foreign renewable energy products, losing more high-paying, high-tech jobs and reducing its gross domestic product growth, as it shifts towards clean energy sources.    Toyota admits 270,000 cars have faulty engines worldwide Toyota has announced that it is currently preparing to recall a total of 270,000 Toyota Crown and Lexus LS, GS and IS models worldwide. As it turns out, some of the company's 4.6-liter V8 and 3.5-liter V6 engines were built using faulty valve springs that may cause the car to stall while driving. Around 180,000 of the faulty powerplants were sold outside of Japan.    Toyota recalls Lexus HS 250h hybrid, halts sales After government tests show the hybrid could leak fuel in a rear-end collision, Toyota stops all sales and recalls 17,000 sedans, including 4,000 at dealerships.    BAMW: 'Protectionist' is not an insult Dartmouth economics professor Douglas Irwin joined the never-ending, undeserved assault on the Smoot-Hawley tariff in his June 18 Wall Street Journal opinion column, titled How 'Protectionist' Became An Insult.    Ford takes top spot for non-luxury brands in J.D. Power's annual quality report. Ford Motor Co. had the highest-quality cars and trucks of all non-luxury producers in J.D. Power & Associates' 2010 Initial Quality Study. Last year, Toyota and Ford tied with 101 problems per 100 vehicles each. As Ford moved up, Toyota plummeted. In 2010, the automaker had an average of 117 problems per 100 vehicles.    China-Invested Noble Buys Stake in U.S. Uranium Supplier USEC Noble Group, in which China’s sovereign wealth fund is a shareholder, bought a 5.1 percent stake in USEC Inc., the only American-owned provider of enriched uranium for use in civilian nuclear reactors, the New York Times reported, citing a filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission.    BAMW: American-made snack cup is key to happy parenting If you're a busy parent with small children, think of the time you could save (and stress you could avoid) by not having to chase down every last cracker that falls underneath or between each seat or cushion in the car or at home.    US, Canada and Free Trade In the wake of "Buy American", Canadian municipalities initially voted to retaliate. After months of tense negotiations, a bilateral deal was finally reached earlier this year, which did exempt Canadian iron, steel and manufactured products until September, 2011. But the trend toward protectionism in the U.S. appears to be picking up steam.    Rahall: "Buy American" Congressional Group Launched to Shut Flood Gates on Tidal Wave of Tax Dollars Overseas "In 2007, the Defense Department alone allowed over 14,000 contracts for goods and services to go to foreign companies," said Rahall. "That’s $5.7 Billion American tax dollars we waved good bye to. We’ve got to shut the flood gates on the tidal wave of taxpayer’s dollars flowing overseas, and shore up our contracts here for goods and services bought by the federal government and provided by American workers.    Murphy helps ‘Buy American’ defense amendments pass "My focus is simple. By spending more of our existing authorized defense dollars here in America, we can help rebuild our domestic industrial economy without spending any additional federal money." In 2008, the Bush Administration allowed 65,000 waivers to the nation’s Buy American laws — a 450 percent increase over the previous year. Murphy said as a result, millions of American tax dollars were shipped overseas, affecting thousands of manufacturing jobs in the U.S.    Schauer slams Chinese-made Census Bureau swag While looking over a key chain and baseball cap promoting the 2010 census, he was stunned when he read "Made in China." "What irony," he says. "Here is the census, something to try to help us get our fair share of federal dollars, and the products are helping create jobs in China. It's an outrage that our tax dollars are going to create jobs in China, but China isn't letting U.S. businesses have access to government contracts."    BAMW: American-made electrical products for the home one of the most difficult areas to buy American has always been the electrical/electronics category. A typical rule is that if you have to plug it in, it's going to be difficult to find American made.    Is Any Job Better Than No Job? Roger Simmermaker, an electronics technician for a large defense contractor and the vice president of his local machinists union, is the author of "How ...    BAMW: Toy companies seeing the benefit of 'Made in USA' Anecdotal evidence from attendees of the annual toy fair sponsored by the Toy Industry Association, the world's largest and most attended toy show, indicates toy companies are starting to get the message about the advantages of producing in America rather than offshore; and the steady stream of Chinese toy recalls indicates toy consumers may be getting the same message.    Americans should buy products made in U.S. Can you blame G.E., IBM. Nike, Eureka Williams and others for moving operations out of the country? The U.S. government is to blame. But for political and financial reasons they will not go against big business.    Fighting for 'made in the USA' The obstacles here are rooted in the sad history of manufacturing's decline in the United States: Despite the promise of Chiang's batteries, many on Wall Street and in Silicon Valley were incredulous when he and other leaders at A123 asked for capital to build factories in America — Asia, yes, but Michigan, why would you want to?    American made ... Chinese owned: Full version Chinese firms last year acquired or announced they were starting more than 50 U.S. companies. So far there's little sign of anti-Chinese sentiment among South Carolinians, who watched their state lose its cotton-based textile-manufacturing industry to low-cost countries like China.    BAMW: A better Buy American strategy If you have ever been frustrated trying to find American-made clothing in some of America's big department stores or retail chains, you have felt the same frustration thousands of other Americans have felt who want to find and buy American apparel, but aren't sure how to do it.    High-Tech U.S. Exporters Run Into Problems With Foreign Shipping Firms U.S. companies are having difficulty finding shipping containers in the parts of the country where U.S. exports originate. These containers are owned by the shipping companies that do not want them to be transported thousands of miles into the heartland of the United States to be filled with America's bulk exports.    Honda Recalls 167000 Acura Cars over Fire Hazard Honda Motor Co. is recalling about 167,000 Acura TSX cars to fix power steering hoses that could deteriorate and cause a fire under the hood.    House OKs new rule for clothing allowance A proposal that could someday force service members to spend their annual clothing allowance only on American-made goods passed the House on Wednesday as part of a larger acquisition reform package.    Murphy works to strengthen 'Buy American' laws U.S. Representative Chris Murphy (D-CT) has introduced legislation in Congress, the 21st Century Buy American Act, to require that American taxpayer dollars be spent to buy products from American manufacturers.    Congressman Murphy Helps Establish Caucus to Improve Buy America Provisions WEB FIRST "Even if a product is five or 10 percent less costly in a foreign market, the United States loses in the end because that cost saving is more than offset by the loss of potential jobs in our economy," Mr. Murphy said.    New Movement by Murphy Promotes Buying American "There’s nothing protectionist about keeping U.S. taxpayer money in the U.S.," Mr. Murphy said, noting that the Buy American provisions were established 75 years ago.    Murphy Announces New Bipartisan Congressional Group to Promote Buy American Effort to Grow Jobs Congressman Chris Murphy's (CT-5) effort to fix the country's "Buy American" laws and keep jobs here at home recently took another step as he and Republican Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-3) founded the Congressional Buy American Caucus. The two representatives will serve as co-chairs of the Caucus, which aims to strengthen laws that require the federal government to make buying American-made products a priority.    Not All Jobs Are Created Equal: Why Wall Street's Gain Has Been America's Loss According to Thomas Philippon, professor at NYU's Stern School of Business, in 1947, the financial industry made up 2.5 percent of America's GDP. By 1970, it had grown to 4 percent. By 2006, just before the meltdown, it was 8.3 percent. Just before the financial crisis hit, over 40 percent of the profits of the entire U.S. corporate sector went to the financial industry.    GM to Invest $890 Million in Five Plants to Produce New Engines GM’s investment in the plants (four in the U.S. and one in Canada) will add or preserve 1,600 jobs and boost production of more efficient engines with all- aluminum blocks that are lighter and use less fuel, the Detroit- based company said today.    Green Economy Is Not Yet Made in U.S.A. Rather than "made in America," much of the green manufacturing to date is "assembled in America" from parts made overseas. "The act says that if you assemble in the United States, then you comply," said Tom Dyer, vice president for marketing and government policy for Kyocera Solar, a Japanese company that will assemble solar panels in San Diego from imported Japanese solar cells. "That is what we are doing, and that is what a lot of people are doing."    Toyota issues another recall: Sequoias need electronics fix Toyota said that vehicles without the upgrade could experience problems with the stability control system briefly at speeds of less than 10 mph as the Sequoia accelerates from a stop. This could prevent the vehicle from accelerating as fast as the driver expects.    BAMW: An American-made Mother's Day One of the reasons we celebrate Mother's Day is to celebrate her, compliment her, and make her comfortable as a way of showing your appreciation for who she is and all the selfless things she does year-round.    'Toxic sofa' customers to get up to $30 million Hundreds burned by China-made furniture: 'It's like I was on fire'    BAMW: New Balance and the Buy American Caucus New Balance, the only maker of running shoes and tennis shoes that actually still makes them in America, says it is abiding by the "made in USA" standard, but the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that wrote the standard, isn't so sure.    AP-GfK Poll: Americans say US cars top Asian autos An Associated Press-GfK Poll shows that more Americans now say U.S.-made automobiles are better than cars made by Asian countries.    Shuler: Buy American Caucus propels US jobs Rep. Heath Shuler, D-Waynesville, announced Thursday that he has become a member of the newly created Buy American Caucus.    Brown wants climate bill to regulate imports Sen. Sherrod Brown warned yesterday that a global-warming measure would collapse unless it shielded U.S. manufacturers from imports from countries that do not curb their emissions of greenhouse gases.    New Balance sidesteps FTC ad rules When is a product "Made in America"? For Boston-based shoemaker New Balance, the answer seems to be, "When we say it is."    Jobs, NAFTA are hot topics in Pennsylvania ad wars Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.), who is challenging Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) in the Democratic Senate primary, cited Specter's support for the North American Free Trade Agreement in his pushback against the senator's three new TV ads.    Toyota recalls 600,000 Sienna minivans Another Toyota recall. What’s new? This time it’s over rusting spare tire holders.    Ford battery pack plant to bring new jobs to Ypsilanti Twp. Ford will build battery packs for its new generation of electrified vehicles at its Rawsonville Components Plant in Ypsilanti Township -- part of a $450 million investment that will bring new jobs to the area and protect hundreds of others. The Dearborn automaker also announced plans to build a hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric version of the Ford Focus compact at its Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne. Together, these moves are expected to create 1,000 new jobs in the state by 2012.    Toyota Lexus SUV 'Safety Risk,' Consumer Reports Says The 2010 GX 460 received the designation and 'don’t buy' recommendation because of handling in emergency driving tests.    First of 117 S. Korean railcars being built in S. Phila. for SEPTA With a total price tag of $274 million, each SEPTA car costs nearly $2.3 million. But Doug S. Dan, senior vice president of sales and marketing, said Hyundai Rotem was losing money on the deal.    Trump on Rising Debt owned by the Chinese It's ridiculous. And, you know, again, the problem with our country is, we don’t manufacture anything anymore, I mean, very little. China is doing all — I just bid furniture out on a major project I’m doing, and I have six bids. Every bit of furniture is being made from China.    Maine Paper Workers Call for End to "Unfair" Trade Subsidies The International Trade Commission is soon expected to issue a final ruling on an unfair trade practices complaint brought by several U.S. paper manufacturers against China and Indonesia. Last month, the U.S. Commerce Department found that Chinese and Indonesian paper exporters had received unfair trade subsidies which undercut the U.S. market.    N.H. jobs leaving for China A recent study shows New Hampshire lost a higher percentage of jobs to China in the last decade than any other state, especially in the high-tech industry.    BAMW: Double American exports? Not likely. Poor free-trade America. We just can't seem to achieve a trade balance, let alone a trade surplus. The last time we ran a trade surplus was in 1975 when President Gerald Ford was in the White House.    The "All Three Editions" special is back There seems to be evidence the economy is turning around these days, even though the jobless rate is still high and the U.S. is still drowning in twin deficits of budget and trade.    Should You Buy American Now? How things change. Last year at this time the news was filled with stories of the demise of the American auto industry. Now the story is runaway Toyotas, while domestic automakers reap awards and revenue. So, now that the shoe is on the other foot, should you buy an American car now? Here are five reasons why you should.    N.C.-made: Retailer: Little extra is worth it An outlet retail store owner, David Shahan already knew the economy was tanking and that tens of thousands of North Carolina jobs had washed away in trade-deficit avalanche caused in part by NAFTA and other similar agreements. Rather than lamenting change while doing business with cheaper overseas suppliers, he started placing orders with North Carolina companies.    Opinion: The latest Toyota victim: free speech As the machinery at New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. in Fremont - NUMMI to us Californians - goes silent today in the shutdown ordered by Toyota, so must the 4,700 autoworkers who have worked there every day. The gag rule bullied through by Toyota forbids NUMMI workers and their union from publicly questioning the wisdom of the company's action in shutting down the factory or even talking about the hardships it imposed on thousands of workers, families, and their communities.    WTO ruling a win for U.S., Boeing A final report issued by a panel of the World Trade Organization found that four European governments illegally provided Airbus with below-market-rate financing to develop jetliners, giving it an unfair advantage over Chicago-based Boeing, say people familiar with the confidential report.    Actor Danny Glover takes a supporting role in effort to save Hugo Boss plant Hugo Boss's German parent company has said the Brooklyn factory, its only U.S. manufacturing facility, is making money. But the company said it has excess capacity at its European manufacturing sites, where the work now done here will go.    BAMW: Treat yourself to American treats this Easter With all the different options for American consumers who want satisfy their sweet tooth this Easter, it can be confusing to know just how to buy American-made candy from American-owned companies so we can keep profits and jobs in America.    Made in American store: USA made, and proud of it One guy said, 'I'll buy from you no matter what your prices are.'    How have recent recalls from Toyota and Honda impacted residual values, and how long will that impact last? ALG’s recent Perceived Quality Score Report shows that Toyota has fallen from being No. 1 to No. 6 amongst the mainstream OEMs and Lexus No. 1 to No. 3 in the luxury OEMs.    BAMW: Rx4Nails by and for American women As hard as I try to write articles that give both American men and American women more alternatives, choices, and opportunities to buy American, sometimes it's good to focus on solely on one gender or the other. So ladies, this one's for you.    Toyota to hand off pension bill to U.S. Toyota is leaving a $131-million pension shortfall to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. as it closes the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. plant in Fremont, California. Harley Shaiken, a University of California Berkeley professor and labor relations expert, said the pension shortfall adds to Toyota's public relations challenges. "For the world's most profitable automaker to walk away from a pension covering people who, in some cases, worked for more than a quarter of a century doesn't look good," Shaiken said. "Especially in the wake of Toyota's recent recalls."    Toyota workers raised safety concerns with bosses in 2006 memo From 2000 to 2005, their memo pointed out, Toyota had recalled more than 5 million cars -- 36% of all sold vehicles, a rate higher than other companies.    Orange County prosecutor sues Toyota over defects The Orange County district attorney has filed a lawsuit against Toyota Motor Corp., accusing the automaker of knowingly selling hundreds of thousands of vehicles with acceleration defects. At least 89 class-action lawsuits have been filed against the Japanese automaker, which could cost the company $3 billion or more.    US arms buyer rejects protectionism charge The top U.S. arms buyer said no protectionism was involved in the potential $50 billion refueling-aircraft competition that Europe's EADS quit this week along with Northrop Grumman Corp. If EADS could not meet the current deadlines, the Pentagon should award the contract to Boeing, Senators Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts and Representative Todd Tiahrt, all Republicans, said in a joint statement.    Hoffa Applauds Move to Repeal NAFTA Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa praised a bipartisan bill in the House of Representatives to repeal the North American Free Trade Agreement. "We were sold a bill of goods about NAFTA," Hoffa said. "We were told it would create export jobs because they were dying to buy our refrigerators, they were dying to buy our cars. Instead we lost nearly 600,000 manufacturing jobs. Our $1.7 billion trade surplus with Mexico in 1993 turned into a $64.7 billion deficit in 2008."    Toyota to expand recall of Tundra pickups for rust Toyota says it will expand a recall announced last year to fix Tundra pickup trucks with frames that could rust.    Runaway Prius Hybrid Could Prompt Toyota Recall Sikes, 61, was driving on a busy freeway outside San Diego on Monday when he noticed that his car accelerated. He was surprised, and then dialed 911 as he struggled to lift the gas pedal. The California Highway Patrol said the terrified motorist was helpless as the car raced along the road at speeds of more than 90 mph.    Another runaway Prius injures NY woman Police in Harrison, NY, a suburb of New York City, say the woman was pulling out off her driveway Tuesday when the Hybrid "shot across the street" and hit a rock wall.    BAMW: American-made office furniture for American businesses and consumers If you have a home office like me, work for a company or corporation that uses office furniture, or have friends or business associates who do, you owe it to yourself to check out the extensive line of high-quality, American-made products available at VersaTables.    Will stimulus money for US 27 project make it out of country? Price Contracting, which has offices in Tampa, was awarded the job, but Soares da Costa is a multi-billion dollar, international contractor that owns Prince Contracting. According the company's website, SDC was founded in 1918 in Porto, Portugal. The company has since gone public, but 71 percent of the stock is owned by a wealthy Portuguese businessman named Manuel Roseta Fino.    Toyota's fix is a bust, owners claim Some Toyota owners have begun complaining that their vehicles suddenly accelerated even after dealerships made repairs to fix the problem, according to reports filed with federal safety regulators.    GM blames recall of 1.3m cars on supplier linked to Toyota General Motors has blamed a supplier partly owned by Toyota for a faulty car part that led to the recall of 1.3m Chevrolet and Pontiac cars in North America. Bob Lutz, GM's vice-chairman, yesterday told the BBC in Geneva that the supplier - separately identified as JTEKT, a joint venture between Toyoda Machine Works and Koyo Seiko - had not met "all requirements for reliability and durability."    Toyota Maintains Recall Not Linked to Electronic Systems Toyota officials continued to insist that complaints regarding unintended acceleration in their cars has nothing to do with the vehicle's electronic systems. "I want to be absolutely clear," Takeshi Uchiyamada, an executive vice president for Toyota, testified before a Senate committee, the third congressional hearing on the automaker's problems. "As a result of our extensive testing, we do not believe sudden unintended acceleration because of a defect in our ETCS (Engine Throttle Control System) has ever happened."    Ex-Toyota exec warned of safety, quality problems in '06 Jim Press, the former president of Toyota Motor North America, warned fellow executives of declining safety and quality issues in 2006, documents presented before a Senate committee hearing today show.    Fears over potential Toyota problems surfaced in 2006, US Senate told "Although we rigorously defend our products through good negotiation and analysis, we have a less defensible product," the document, prepared by Chris Tinto, then Toyota’s Vice President for Technical and Regulatory Affairs, states.    Edmunds.com Announces Million Dollar Prize for Unintended Acceleration Research Hearings related to the Toyota recall are now over, but they haven't added much clarity about the cause of unintended acceleration. Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information, announced today that its company representatives are developing a plan to award one million dollars to researchers who address yet unanswered questions about unintended acceleration.    Nissan to Recall 540, 000 Vehicles Globally Nissan Motor Co, Japan's third-biggest car maker, said it will recall about 540,000 vehicles worldwide due to potential defects in brake pedal pins and fuel-gauge components, mostly in the United States. Nissan also announced plans to recall 419,000 cars in the U.S. and 53,000 in other regions for a separate problem with the fuel gauge, which can at higher mileage levels fail to accurately indicate how much fuel is left in the tank.    Recalled Toyota Crashes Into Stone Mountain, Georgia Home "I thought I was in a movie. She was just coming out of the driveway and she was just about to stop to pick us up but the car just took off," said Therese Mitchell, a friend of the driver. The driver is shaken up, but OK. The air bag didn't go off, and that's something the driver is going to look into.    Toyota unable to sweep troubles under the floor mat Toyota should be toast by now. In fact, the only difference between 'Toyota' and 'toast' should be that the word 'toast' has the letter 's' in it and Toyota doesn't.    House panel: Toyota misled the public, dismissed electronic defects "Toyota resisted the possibility that electronic defects could cause safety concerns, relied on a flawed engineering report and made misleading public statements," the committee said in a letter to Toyota Motor Sales USA president Jim Lentz.    Toyota recalls may help free jailed Camry owner Koua Fong Lee, 32, claimed his accelerator got stuck in June 2006 when his 1996 Camry accelerated to more than 70 miles per hour and crashed into another car, killing three family members. The jury did not believe Lee's story, however, and sentenced Lee to eight years in prison.    'Buy American' Provision Boom or Bust? Despite criticism that the Buy American provisions in the federal government's stimulus plan have damaged relations with U.S. trading partners, a U.S. trade group credits the measure with bringing streetcar manufacturing to Oregon.    Nuclear Builders Want Revival of U.S. Manufacturing Capability Executives from utilities planning new nuclear units were asked how much of their projects would be sourced in the U.S. Said Mike Wallace, chairman of Unistar, which is planning Calvert Cliffs-3, "How much can we get?" They pointed out that the first generation of nuclear plants was sourced heavily in the U.S., but as new construction waned, much of that capacity was shut down. Now, the largest components for new plants must be sourced overseas.    U.S. Court upholds country-of-origin labeling (COOL) law "Canada and Mexico should immediately drop their complaints at the WTO before they further damage the integrity and reputation of their respective cattle industries," R-CALF USA COOL Committee Chair Mike Schultz concluded. "It is indefensible for these foreign countries’'cattle producers to assert that U.S. consumers do not deserve to know the true origins of the beef that they feed their families."    Toyota Tacoma Recall Announced Toyota has announced yet another recall. The automaker says it's recalling about 8,000 Tacoma pickup trucks from the 2010 model year. The problem is with the front propeller shaft that could cause the vehicle to lose control.    Toyota Recall: Toyota Reportedly Hid Acceleration Problem From U.S. Officials For 1 Year Toyota waited until Jan. 19 to disclose to U.S. safety officials that millions of its vehicles could accelerate on their own – a problem they had known for one year, the Wall Street Journal disclosed today.    Brazil to Sanction U.S. on Goods, Intellectual Rights As much as $4 billion in annual U.S. payments to cotton farmers violate global trade rules by encouraging excess production and driving down world prices, the WTO found in 2004. The U.S., the world’s largest exporter of the fiber, hasn’t done enough to scrap aid to its cotton producers, the WTO found in 2008.    Yes, we lied, says Japanese plane seat-maker In another blow to corporate Japan's image of reliability, Koito Industries has admitted to fabricating safety data for seats in more than 1,000 aircraft used by 32 carriers. Fake data was used for more than 150,000 seats used in the Boeing and Airbus aircraft of customers including Air Canada, KLM, Scandinavian Airlines and Singapore Airlines.    Japanese-based Koito Industries firm ordered to fix airline seats Toyota owns 20 percent of the shares of Koito Industries' parent company. The aircraft seat problem follows troubles with Toyota automobiles that have tarnished the company's image.    Koito admits seat fraud Koito has admitted fabricating test results for seat strength and fire resistance. The parent company, Koito Manufacturing, reportedly makes 50 per cent of its revenue supplying products to Toyota.    US steel tubular producers unite against alleged Chinese evasion of import duties Chinese companies are labeling shipments to make them seem as though they are coming from Malaysia, Vietnam or other countries that do not face duties, said Roger Schagrin, a lawyer for the Committee on Pipe and Tube Imports (CPTI). It has also been claimed that Chinese products are entering the country in containers categorized as other products.    Pipe, tube makers: Chinese companies perpetuating fraud Last month, Wheatland Tube and V&M Star Steel in Youngstown were among the producers that successfully petitioned the U.S. government for duties on oil-country tubular goods, which is pipe used for oil and natural-gas exploration.    Toyota Used Ex-Regulators to Help Kill Probes Toyota hired ex-government regulators to kill at least four investigations into problems with its cars in the U.S. That's the conclusion of an investigation by Bloomberg. The news service reports that, "Christopher Tinto, vice president of regulatory affairs in Toyota's Washington office, and Christopher Santucci, who works for Tinto, helped persuade the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to end probes including those of 2002-2003 Toyota Camrys and Solaras, court documents show. Both men joined Toyota directly from NHTSA, Tinto in 1994 and Santucci in 2003."    Safety Agency Scrutinized as Toyota Recall Grows In November, top auto safety officials made an unusual request of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. After reviewing complaints about Toyota vehicles, the regulators said they believed the automaker was stalling their inquiries and wanted to go to Japan to stress just how serious their concerns had become. Executives at Toyota "were dragging things out, and we'd had it," a senior American transportation official said in recounting new details of the talks. "We were getting excuses that didn’t make sense anymore."    Honda expands recall to over 900,000 vehicles worldwide "The driver's airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure, which may cause the airbag inflator casing to rupture, resulting in metal fragments passing through the airbag cushion material and possibly causing injury or fatality to vehicle occupants," Honda said.    Survey: Buyers Shy Away From Toyota The Kelley Blue Book survey found that 27 percent of potential car buyers who were considering a Toyota prior to the recall are no longer looking to buy a Toyota. Similar sized declines were seen for Toyota's Scion and Lexus brands. Of those that defected from Toyota, the Blue Book study found that 49 percent said they are not sure they will consider buying from the automaker again.    Consumers Are Shockingly Uninterested In Buying A Toyota Right Now Of those competing brands offering specific incentives to Toyota owners/shoppers, Ford is garnering the most consumer attention, with 16 percent of car shoppers saying they were not considering a Ford prior to the Toyota recall but now are (due to Ford's Toyota-specific incentives). Chevrolet is in second place with eight percent saying they were not considering a Chevy prior to the recall news, but now are (due to Chevy's Toyota- specific incentives).    BAMW: An American-made Valentine's Day Valentine's Day is just around the corner. Here are some gift ideas that can still claim the United States of America as the source.    Toyota announces global recall of more than 400,000 Prius, other hybrid cars The recall will fix a software glitch in the brakes of the Prius and three other hybrid models. It has caused brief and sometimes frightening delays in perceived braking capacity on icy or bumpy roads.    Toyota Dealers Pull Ads on ABC for 'Excessive Stories' on Recalls Brian Ross, chief investigative correspondent for ABC News, says he’s undaunted that 173 Southeastern Toyota dealers have pulled their ads from ABC-affiliated stations in response to his persistent reporting on the company’s sudden unintended acceleration problems.    State Farm alerted NHTSA to Toyota woes The nation's largest auto insurer said Tuesday it alerted federal safety regulators in late 2007 about a rise in reports of unexpected acceleration in Toyota vehicles, the latest warning sign to emerge about the massive recall.    Toyota recalls may not solve problem, experts say According to Michael Pecht, who is an expert in failure analysis and has written a book on sudden acceleration in automobiles, complicated electronics -- not a mechanical issue with the gas pedal -- lie at the heart of Toyota's problems. And three other independent safety analysts contacted by CNN also conclude that neither floor mats nor stuck gas pedals are an overwhelming issue. "If they announce that electronics is a problem, they are probably going to be in a lot of trouble, because nobody's going to drive the car. So at this stage, they don't want to announce there is any electronic problem."    Official: State Farm warned NHTSA on Toyota in '07 Private insurer State Farm informed a U.S. government regulator of a worrying trend of vehicle-caused accidents involving Toyota Motor Corp as far back as late 2007, an official at the company said.    THE INFLUENCE GAME: Toyota's powerful DC friends Toyota's PAC would have difficulty distinguishing itself from Toyota's Japanese management to the degree needed to be legal under U.S. campaign finance laws. That makes Toyota an unwitting example of an issue that has become a hot topic in Washington in recent days: foreign companies with U.S. subsidiaries and their involvement in U.S. elections.    EU seeks sanctions against U.S. The European Union is asking the World Trade Organization to approve US$311 million in sanctions on U.S. goods in retaliation for American anti-dumping calculations the trade body says break global rules.    China to Penalize U.S. Chicken Imports China, the largest market for U.S. chicken exports, plans to impose anti-dumping tariffs of up to 105.4 percent on U.S. broiler chicken imports, starting Feb. 13, that country’s Ministry of Commerce said Friday. In a statement on its Web site, the ministry said the poultry products had been dumped at unfair prices onto the China market, causing "substantial damage" to the domestic chicken industry.    Feingold calls for Buy American provision in jobs bill Feingold is also the author of the Buy American Improvement Act. This legislation would help close loopholes in the 1933 Buy American Act that have allowed federal agencies to circumvent Buy American requirements.    Lexus hybrid brakes under scrutiny in Toyota investigation Toyota Motor Corp.'s investigation into brake problems with its Prius hybrid bled over to the Prius' upscale cousin, the Lexus HS 250h hybrid, on Thursday.    Toyota’s Recall Antics Spread Virally You have to see this John Stewart video on Comedy Central…he’s pretty brutal on Toyota.    BAMW: Toyota finally takes their turn in the barrel Orlando Sentinel Automotive Editor Steven Cole Smith once told me of a friend he was consoling who worked in public relations at Ford when the automaker was going through a crisis.    Toyota sales off 16% after recalls Honda sales also down 5%. So who gained ground last month at Toyota’s expense? Number one automaker GM sales rose 14% (21% market share), and Ford reclaimed status as the nation’s number two automaker (16.7% market share) by securing a sales gain of 25%.    Apple's Wozniak: Toyota may have software trouble Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak suggested Tuesday in media interviews that Toyota's troubles with a defective accelerator pedal may have to do with software, after his Prius sped up while in cruise-control. "Since my foot never touches the pedal," Wozniak told ABC News, the problem "cannot be a sticky accelerator pedal.... There might be some bad software in there."    Venezuela’s Chavez to Automakers: Do what I say or 'pack up and leave.' Most of Chavez's ire was directed at Toyota, but all foreign automakers were threatened. GM currently leads the Venezuelan market. "Companies who come here to set up must be ready to transfer technology to us," Chavez said. "If they don't want to, they should go away. I invite them to pack up their belongings and leave."    BAMW: China replaces lead with cadmium in children's jewelry Just when you thought the turmoil with unsafe toys from China was terminated and you thought your children could safely play with any toy imported from anywhere, we learn that Chinese producers have replaced lead with hazardous levels of cadmium.    Industry Group Says 'Buy America' Provisions Are Necessary for U.S. Jobs Buy America provisions ensure that U.S. tax dollars are directed to purchase American-made manufactured goods to the extent permitted under international trade obligations. A strong majority of Americans (84%, according to a 2009 poll) support requirements for American-made materials in all federally funded infrastructure investment.    Consumer Reports Pulls Some Toyota Recommendations Consumer Reports, an influential publication for car buyers, has temporarily suspended its "recommended" status for eight recalled Toyota models because of faulty gas pedal systems, dealing another blow to the Japanese automaker's reputation in the United States.    Toyota Speed-Up Suits Say Problem Goes Deeper Than Gas Pedal Plaintiffs' lawyers claim that Toyota knew of the sudden acceleration problem for years before the November recall. "First they blamed it on the driver, then it was the floor mats, then the accelerator pedal, and now they're shutting down the plants," Edgar Heiskell, one of the attorneys in the West Virginia case, said yesterday in a phone interview. "Toyota's position has changed at least three times."    Doubt cast on Toyota's decision to blame sudden acceleration on gas pedal defect Toyota Motor Corp.'s decision to blame its widening sudden-acceleration problem on a gas pedal defect came under attack Friday, with the pedal manufacturer flatly denying that its products were at fault. "The way the sudden-acceleration problems are occurring in reported incidents doesn't comport with how this sticky pedal is described," said Sean Kane, president of Safety Research & Strategies, a Rehoboth, Mass., auto safety consulting firm. "We know this recall is a red herring."    Congressional investigators probe Toyota's runaway cars Officials with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have been wrangling for at least five years with the automaker over complaints that cars were accelerating without cause, according to the Center for Auto Safety.    Honda recalls 646,000 cars for fire hazard Fresh on the heels of Toyota temporarily halting sales of eight models over concerns about accelerator pedals sticking, Honda announced Friday a voluntary recall of 646,000 cars worldwide to examine window switches that can melt or catch fire when exposed to an extreme amount of liquid.    Traficant keen on returning to political life "I'm gonna run," Traficant said. "I don't know where I'm going to run. I don't know what I'm going to run as. But I'm running for, not against. And I'm gonna ask 'em to surrender nice. If they don't, then I'm gonna take 'em to the mat and try to beat the hell out of 'em."    Toyota concedes quality took back seat to 'speedy moves' to global growth Last week, Toyota recalled 2.3 million vehicles (the eight models it stopped making on Tuesday) and late last year it recalled as many as 4.3 million vehicles. Some of the recalls were to fix gas pedals, and some were to replace floor mats that could jam the pedals.    Camry red flag raised in 2004 As early as 2004, authorities investigated reports of unintended acceleration in Toyota's best-selling model, the Camry.    Ford Posts First Annual Profit Since 2005 The company will have to shrink its total debt which stood at $36.8 billion at the end of the year, almost twice the size of General Motors which, along with Chrysler, filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this year.    Glassmaking Thrives Offshore, but Is Declining in U.S. The majestic steel beams of a soaring office tower beginning to rise from the ruins of the World Trade Center are a tribute to American resilience, but also a marker in the decline of yet another industry. Not an inch of imported glass went into the two lost towers, built 40 years ago. The lower floors of the new one will soon be sheathed in Chinese glass.    Fallout grows in Toyota sales halt Toyota took the extraordinary step of halting the sale of the vehicles late Tuesday over issues of "sticky acceleration pedals" because it hasn't yet found a fix. Those eight models accounted for nearly 60 percent of its U.S. sales last year. Toyota has been looking at the issue of sticky pedals since 2007. Avis-Budget Group said it is removing about 20,000 recalled Toyota vehicles from its fleet.    'Made in USA': Simple in theory, costly in practice A new state law prohibits cities, counties, the state and other "public employers" from buying uniforms or safety equipment made outside the United States.    Toyota Suspends Sales of 8 Models after Accelerator Pedals Keep Sticking Toyota has suspended sales of eight of its most popular vehicle models while the motor company investigates sticking accelerator pedals, following reports by ABC News' Brian Ross that examined incidents of random acceleration, some of which resulted in fatalities.    The Glass Industry, Domestic and Foreign The American glass industry is not dead, but unfortunately Carlisle PPG, a company in the state of Pennsylvania, bid for and lost the contract for the World Trade Center site. The effect of Chinese subsidies and market manipulation can’t be underestimated.    America Absolutely Needs a National Manufacturing Policy, Urges Senator Sherrod Brown Trade should be practiced in accordance with our national interest, not according to some economic textbook that has been out of print for 20 years.    Fair Trade With China Means Jobs In Lorain America's steel industry is one of the most competitive industries in the world, having tripled productivity since the 1980s, increased its energy efficiency by about one-third since 1990 and reduced air and water emissions by 90 percent.    U.S pork rind makers angry over imports "How essential is it that we start importing pork rinds from countries that have really bad diseases?" said Dave Griswold, a veterinarian at the Bureau of Animal Health in Pennsylvania's Department of Agriculture.    U.S. fish importer admits tariff evasion Sterling Seafood Corp. Chief Executive Officer Thomas George admitted that from 2004 to 2006 he evaded an anti-dumping tariff imposed on imported Vietnamese catfish by having it labeled as grouper, which was not subject to the special duties, avoiding more than $60 million in anti-dumping tariffs.    BAMW: American assets continue to fall into Chinese hands As the U.S. economy seeks to secure some sense of stability, more American assets are falling into the eager, acquisitive hands of Chinese-controlled companies.    Chinese unchecked Chinese manufacturers of children's jewelry, recently forced to stop using lead in their wares, are now substituting cadmium. Cadmium, a carcinogen known to hinder brain development in the very young, is just as dangerous to children as lead, but the United States has never banned its specific use in jewelry.    AP Enterprise: US buyers must beware in China Paul Midler, author of the new book "Poorly Made in China" and who worked for an American company that was making shampoo and skin lotion at a Chinese factory, describes in his book how a Chinese factory was caught changing the formula for products without consulting the U.S. company. Its Chinese partner also unilaterally decided to use thinner plastic bottles to save money.    Building Blocks of MLK Jr. Memorial Made in China Since made-in-China American flags have been used in the memorial services of those that have paid the ultimate price in Iraq and Afghanistan, perhaps this is not such a surprise.    BAMW: Foreign investment can turn the American economy Chinese If you've ever bought seemingly innocent consumer products like a Frisbee or a Hula-Hoop, typical food products for your family like Pilgrim's Pride poultry, or an American-made Haier refrigerator, you're a supporting participant in foreign investment in the American economy.    Buy American: "Anti-China Backlash" Coming, Gerald Celente Says In part because of anti-China sentiment, Celente says the "buy local" movement is going to pick up steam in the coming years - and not just in the U.S. "We're going to start seeing trade barriers go up more and more and more," he says. "It's not isolationism but survivalism. Unlike most mainstream economists, Celente does not believe trade barriers are necessarily bad for the global economy, saying there really isn't free trade today but the "dumping of products using cheap labor."    Valley pipe producers expect more penalties on imports The U.S. International Trade Commission last week approved duties of about 13 percent on Chinese imports of oil-country tubular goods, which is pipe used for oil and natural gas exploration. The next case alleges that China dumped pipe, which means selling it for less than the cost of production. A final ruling is expected in April, but a preliminary ruling has called for duties of 96 percent on most Chinese producers, said Roger Lindgren, V&M president.    Next Chevrolet Aveo will be bigger and made in Michigan General Motors is about to turn your world on its head. The new Chevrolet Aveo RS isn’t going to be bland, tiny and foreign made. The move to make the car in the USA starting in 2011 will restore 1,200 auto worker jobs and score points for GM in Congress, where it counts.    New ad campaign touts 'made in China' "Made in China, made with the world" is the theme of an ad campaign masterminded by DDB Guoan, the Chinese branch of Manhattan-based agency DDB.    America's sputtering economic engine Now that we have laid down the law to our industrial trading partners, we must put tariffs on countries that employ slave labor and pay wages of $1 to $2 an hour. How can American workers compete with slave labor countries without gradually losing jobs year after year?    Absence of U.S. cars from Japanese 'clunker' program irks lawmaker The $3 billion U.S. program ran over the summer and was open to all fuel-efficient cars, no matter where they were made. Now the trouble is, as U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton (D-Ohio) sees it, the Japanese government has not returned the favor. Under that country's own incentive program, not a single car from the Detroit Three is eligible.    Scott's Liquid Gold thanks America for their success (video) An American-owned company with an All-American workforce is proud to manufacture their quality products in America.    Ansonia Copper seeks support of Buy American legislation The last American manufacturer of copper-nickel tubing for U.S. ships and submarines is warning a German competitor is threatening to torpedo the business.    Rep. Chris Murphy wants government to support U.S. manufacturers Murphy would like to see manufacturers get a bonus for purchasing more than 50 percent of a product from U.S. suppliers while adding additional jobs in the United States.    Feingold is right: We must 'buy American' "The federal government needs to be held accountable on whether it is supporting hardworking Americans," Feingold said. "My legislation will help close loopholes in current law that have allowed federal agencies to evade the Buy American Act. By purchasing American-made goods whenever possible, our federal government will send a simple message to American workers: We support you."    Steel becomes the latest Chinese product to face tariffs All six members of the U.S. International Trade Commission agreed that Chinese producers are dumping steel grating products and should face a tariff of 10 to 16 percent. Close to $3 billion worth of the pipes were imported, a 350 percent increase from 2006 levels.    BAMW: Will there be a Buy American trend in 2010? As we prepare to usher in a New Year and a new decade with an ongoing unstable and uncertain economy, there is evidence that the New Year's resolution on the minds of many Americans is to pay more attention to domestic products when making their purchases.    Whirlpool to reopen northern Ohio freezer factory Appliance maker Whirlpool says it will reopen a northern Ohio factory that was shut down when a Canadian company announced it could not find a buyer. The Benton Harbor, Mich.-based company has Ohio plants in Clyde, Marion and Findlay.    BAMW: Supporting American health care and American manufacturing Many times my 'Buy American Mention of the Week' articles feature products from smaller companies that are based online and aren't available in stores.    Acme can claim made-in-USA label all to itself Many specialty staple customers value a U.S. source of supply for a variety reasons — shorter development and production lead times, lower shipping costs, secure supply and "Made in America" being among them.    Seattle's SwaddleDesigns® Named to the Inc 500 List of the 500 Fastest Growing Private Companies in USA SwaddleDesigns' made in USA strategy continues to be an important part of its success.    Japan's Cash for Clunkers Excludes US Cars Cars made by U.S. automakers, like GM and Ford, are effectively excluded from the Japanese cash-for-clunkers program. "It's outrageous that Japan denies that their 'cash for clunkers' program discriminates against American automakers. When we put together the CARS program, we followed international law and made it apply to all cars sold in the United States--not just American cars," said U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan).    BAMW: The toys under your tree should be China-free What does "Made in USA" mean to you? It should mean exactly what it says, right? American-made products with no imported pieces and no foreign assembly.    Lawmakers urge Buy American mandate in jobs bill "If we are going to pass a strong job creation bill then it only makes sense to include strong Buy American provisions to further ensure that the jobs ... are created within the United States," lawmakers Bruce Braley and Mike Michaud said in a letter to House of Representatives leaders.    College Professor: This holiday season be a hero Every time you buy a product made in the USA , you are telling the store that you support American made product. If you refuse to buy products made in China, the stores will not keep it. Remember the stores do not want to stock products that they can not sell.    BAMW: Visiting the Virtual Old General Store An upwardly mobile trend is the presence of e-commerce sites that sell only American-made goods, and if you're a supporter of the Buy American cause, this is good news.    Pew Poll: Isolationism and China Rising For the first time in forty years of polling, a plurality of Americans -- 49 percent -- think the US should "mind its own business internationally." Matched only by this: for the first time a plurality of Americans -- 44 percent -- see China as the world's leading economic power. Only 27 percent name the U.S. Just last year, the US was at 40 percent -- ten points ahead of China.    On jobs front, President Obama needs to show a little audacity Obama fought for, and won, a "buy American" provision in the stimulus bill requiring dollars to be spent on domestic goods. The policy has rankled Canadian businesses, which lost an estimated $4 billion selling pipes, filters and other heavy-duty infrastructure items to American cities and counties for water and sewage systems. To his credit, Obama has refused repeated requests from Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to exempt his country from the "buy American" clause.    The Little Company that Did Mike Whitworth’s small toy-making company, Whittle Shortline Railroad in New London, Mo, gained a national market when Chinese-made trains were recalled in 2007. His American Puzzle Co. now produces its own designs, plus George Luck Puzzles that previously were manufactured in China. "We're actually bringing jobs back here," Whitworth says.    Obama must act to add jobs When $1 billion in stimulus money was used to boost to the U.S. wind power industry, more than 80 percent of the money went to foreign firms. We're paying to buy wind turbines from China -- even though the Chinese have strict "Buy China" rules for their own $600 billion stimulus program.    Americans favor protectionism in a new Gallup Poll as the best way to create jobs Out of 17 different responses, "Keep manufacturing jobs here/stop sending overseas" was the most popular response (see complete table at the end of the article).    Lack of Money/Wages Top Family Financial Problem in U.S. When asked in an open-ended question to name the most important financial problem facing their families today, one in six Americans (17%) say low wages and a lack of money. Healthcare costs are next, at 14%.    BAMW: Shopping at the 'Made in USA Products Store' If you were out and about shopping on Black Friday or the weekend that followed, you've probably had enough of the traffic and the crowds.    Farouk Systems is moving 1,000 jobs from China to Texas to make their ceramic hairstyling irons! Click the link above to see the video.    BAMW: Buy American this Black Friday Everything we bring to the table this Thanksgiving can be "made in USA" from the plates and glasses, to the silverware, cookware, candles, and coffee. Here is how we can make our Thanksgiving Day table a cornucopia of American-made products.    NBA uniforms may be made in Asia Senator urges Adidas to keep uniforms 'Made in the U.S.A.' but Adidas is German owned and owes no loyalty to the United States workforce.    Understanding China The West has gotten it wrong on China for decades -- even as it embraces a market economy, it has shunned Western-style freedoms. And its power is only growing.    Leo W. Gerard: Hell if D.C. Didn't Offshore $849 Million in Stimulus for Windmills Already Of the $1.05 billion in clean energy grants awarded by D.C., $849 million -- 84 percent -- went to foreign wind companies.    BAMW: Buying American the way of eagles Bald Eagles were removed from the endangered species list in June 2007 because their population recovered, even though the protections under the Eagle Act continue to apply.    Washington Times Against Protectionism Before They Were For It President Obama is visiting Asia, and is blasted over and over about America's supposedly "protectionist" policies. Think about it, the country with the massive trade surplus accuses the country with the massive trade deficit of being "protectionist." Call it The Audacity Of Projection.    Wind turbine jobs blow in China's direction Most of the wind energy projects seeking money under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act rely on foreign-made turbines. There would be perhaps 330 jobs created in Texas. Most would be temporary construction jobs. Meanwhile, thousands of Chinese workers in the northeastern industrial city Shenyang would build the labor-intensive turbines.    China's A-Power to Build U.S. Wind Turbine Factory China's A-Power Energy Generation Systems Ltd. and the U.S. Renewable Energy Group -- partners in a Texas wind farm that has raised eyebrows and concerns on Capitol Hill -- announced plans today to build a wind turbine production factory in the United States. The 320,000-square-foot plant would employ roughly 1,000 U.S. workers and produce 1,100 megawatts of turbines annually for projects in the Americas, according to an agreement signed by the companies. The turbines would be built with technology licensed by A-Power and mechanical components sourced from U.S. manufacturers.    BAMW: Preserving American military heritage and pride Cockpit USA has been a supplier of fine civilian and military apparel for 35 years, and now their classic American collection of quality goods are available from their New York headquarters to anywhere in America you happen to be    Toyota recall unable to prevent 19 fatalities The Los Angeles Times is reporting this morning that over 1,000 Toyota and Lexus owners have reported sudden, spontaneous acceleration of their vehicles. 3.8 million vehicles in the U.S. have been recalled due to an improper-fitting floormat which could possibly get stuck under the gas pedal. The Los Angeles Times is reporting they have found crashes which resulted in 19 fatalities.    BAMW: Christmas and Consumer Patriotism You may remember back in June of this year when JC Penney came out with a shirt that said "AMERICAN MADE" across the front.    One Million Maclaren Strollers Recalled -- What’s up? There have been a run of baby products recalled lately including cribs, jog strollers, bassinets, even jars organic apple baby food. There have been 15 reports of children placing their finger in the made-in-china stroller’s hinge mechanism, resulting in 12 reports of fingertip amputations in the United States.    BAMW: Strolling down the American Aisle Have you ever been strolling down the aisle of a nearby, local retail store and wondered why they don't have an "American Aisle" where you could find only American-made goods?    U.S., EU Seek Trade Probe of China Raw-Material Curbs The U.S. and the European Union asked the World Trade Organization to probe Chinese taxes on exports of raw materials used in the metals and chemical industries, escalating a third joint complaint against China. The duties discourage the export of commodities including coke, bauxite and manganese that are "critical" for U.S. and European manufacturers, while keeping them cheaper and available in China, the U.S. and the EU said yesterday.    Recovery dollars for foreign-owned companies The Investigative Reporting Workshop at the American University School of Communication reports that a large portion of clean energy grant money has gone to foreign-owned companies. 84 percent ($849 million) $1.05 billion in clean energy grant money was awarded to foreign-owned wind companies.    BAMW: Protect the 'Made in USA' label Do you feel the 'Made in USA' label and its integrity and value should be protected?    US wants India to decrease tariffs on industrial goods Commerce ministry officials are examining a demand made by the US that India should agree to steep tariff cuts on a range of industrial products that cover about 60 per cent of the latterÕs overall imports. Brazil has informed that it cannot accept WashingtonÕs requests made during a bilateral meeting in Paris last month.    China to pursue trade case against US automakers China has told the U.S. that it will take steps that could lead to higher tariffs on imports of autos made by GM, Chrysler and Ford.    BAMW: Power of the 'Made in USA' label propels domestic sales Is there any real power in the 'Made in USA' label when it comes to influencing American consumers?    You should buy American When I graduated from high school, jobs were plentiful and foreign competition was insignificant. I had three auto plants, five steel plants, a copper smelter, an aluminum mill and dozens of other manufacturing facilities to choose from in the Metro area.    Surprise! Buying American still matters "When it comes to longer term benefits, a lot of activity happens in the country in which the company's world headquarters is domiciled," said Thomas Klier, an economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago who has written extensively on the auto industry.    USW Affirms Report on China Glass Industry Subsidization as Job Threat The USW currently represents about 15,000 workers actively employed in the North American glass industry at production plants that make auto and truck vehicle glass, office and residential energy efficient windows, fiber optic cable, glass containers, cookware and applications for electronic devices.    Canada turns to WTO over U.S. label law After months of fruitless talks with the Obama administration, Canada wants the World Trade Organization to settle a dispute over a new U.S. food-labeling law that threatens tens of millions of dollars worth of Canadian hog and cattle exports. U.S. officials counter that country-of-origin regulations are common around the world. "Countries have agreed since long before the existence of the WTO that country-of-origin labelling is a legitimate policy," U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a joint statement yesterday.    Marketing case study shows 10% sales lift from "Made in USA" tag See how an American furniture manufacturer promoted their products' domestic origins to lift sales more than 10% and orders-per-day 19.1%.    Canada's Mayors withdraw Buy American boycott threat Welland Mayor Damian Goulbourne said he can understand where the U. S. government is coming from in putting the Buy American campaign in place. "They're trying to stimulate their economy," he said, adding in Canada the prime minister and government are responsible for doing the same.    Feds probe Toyota Tundras The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Tuesday opened a preliminary investigation into corrosion on 218,000 Toyota Tundra pickups -- the latest safety issue to dog the Japanese automaker.    Toyota asks $2M for Calif. worker training Toyota Motor Corp. has reportedly touched off a firestorm in Sacramento with a request for a $2 million payment for training workers it will soon be terminating. Labor union lobbyist Barry Broad, acting chairman of the state's Employment Training Panel, said "we can't in good conscience give money to train people how to do jobs that are about to disappear forever" while calling it "some kind of dreadful corporate welfare."    Runaway Car Triggers Toyota Safety Recall Toyota is recalling almost four million vehicles in the U.S. because of a risk that the driver's side floor mat could cause the accelerator to stick, leading to a fatal car crash. The move came after a family died in a terrifying 120 mph crash when the accelerator on their Lexus became stuck. Eight models of Toyota and Lexus cars and trucks, including the Camry and Prius, are affected in what is the company's biggest U.S. recall to date.    U.S. Steel Files Dumping Petition Against Chinese Steel Pipes U.S. Steel Corp. asked the U.S. Commerce Department to impose dumping and anti-subsidy duties of as much as 90 percent on some Chinese steel pipe imports, days after the Obama administration set tariffs on Chinese tires. The petition was filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission against $400 million in imports of pipes used in chemical, petrochemical, refineries and related operations. The U.S. imposed tariffs this month on a different type of steel pipe from China in a separate case.    Change in economic policy sorely needed Yes, the Japanese and German auto manufacturers have built assembly plants in the U.S, but many of the high-value parts like engines and transmissions are still coming from outside the U.S. And the necessary research and design for those cars is being done elsewhere. Of the developed nations, the U.S. is the only one that has run a chronic trade deficit for the last 20 years. But why should we continually buy more manufactured products from other countries than they buy from us?    BAMW: The Impact of Obama's Chinese Tire Tariffs As expected (as I expected, anyway) President Obama slapped fairly significant tariffs on Chinese tires that have been flooding the U.S. market and forcing American factories to close and American workers to lose their jobs.    Buy American resolutions pass Ramsey County, St. Paul City Council The St. Paul City Council and the Ramsey County Board have passed labor-backed resolutions calling for use of American-manufactured steel in public-works projects funded by economic stimulus dollars. Similar resolutions are in the works in Minneapolis and Hennepin County. Buy-American resolutions on the local level, according to Dave Hallas, recording secretary of United Steelworkers Local 7263, reinforce similar provisions written into the stimulus package passed by Congress and signed by President Obama in February.    Obama to hit China with tough tariff on tires The Obama administration will impose stiff tariffs on imports of Chinese-made tires after finding that a surge of imports has disrupted the U.S. domestic market. The action is the first major trade enforcement action of his presidency and comes less than two weeks before a high-profile summit of the leaders of the Group of 20 nations, including China. It is the first time the U.S. government has imposed special "safeguard" provisions to protect a U.S. industry from Chinese competition.    U.S. Says China Violated Trade Law To even the playing field, the Commerce Department has ordered that tariffs ranging from an estimated 11 percent to 31 percent be imposed on the steel pipes from China. The volume of steel pipes imported from China more than tripled between 2006 and 2008, rising from $632 million to $2.6 billion, according to the Commerce Department.    Get Toyota to Tell the Truth "The American legal system and vehicle owners need to rise up to 'get Toyota to tell the truth' about its hidden crash safety data," said Dallas attorney Todd Tracy, recognized as one of the world's top legal experts on vehicle accidents and safety defects that cause crashes. "Toyota was the top benefactor of the 'Cash For Clunkers' stimulus rebate program. Their cover-up of serious safety problems makes a 'chump' out of the American taxpayer."    China's Ring of Power While nobody was paying attention, Beijing was busy cornering the market on a little-known, but much coveted, strategic commodity. China caught on to green lanthanide's strategic value early and has been cornering the market ever since. The country now controls more than 95 percent of the world's supply. These metals, today used in commercial products such as mobile phones and iPods, will increase in value over the coming years, as they are essential in a range of energy-efficient applications from hybrid cars to wind turbines.    Marketing Jewelry's "Made in America" Selling Point For the month of June 2009, Google Adwords keyword tool shows that over 200,000 Internet searchers looked for information pertaining to the keywords "American made."    A Grand Goal for More U.S. Manufacturing Jobs "We should set a goal...to have manufacturing jobs be no less than 20% of total employment, about twice what it is today," Immelt said. "This is a national imperative." According to Susan Helper, chair of the economics department at Case Western Reserve University's Weatherhead School of Management, the speech turned heads. "GE had been a leader of offshoring, saying it was just too expensive to manufacture in the U.S., so to hear Immelt arguing that we need to rebuild our industrial base is significant," she says.    Suntech Admits Selling Below Cost In U.S. To Gain Share Suntech CEO Shi Zhengrong told the New York Times that his company is selling solar panels in the U.S. market for less than the cost of materials, assembly and shipping in a bid to boost market share. The Times disclosed the comment in a report today on the rapid growth of the Chinese solar manufacturing sector. The piece notes that "backed by lavish government support," the Chinese are planning to build plants to assemble products in the U.S. to bypass protectionist legislation. Chinese solar companies, the story says, "are encouraging their United States executives to join industry trade groups to tamp down antti-Chinese sentiment before it takes root." Suntech plans to announce within the next two months its plans to build a $30 million solar panel assembly plant in Phoenix or somewhere in Texas. "It'll be to facilitate sales -- 'buy American' and things like that," Steven Chan, the company's president for global sales and marketing, told the Times.    New Zealand's Meridian Energy Buys US Solar Company New Zealand's largest electricity generator, Meridian Energy, is testing the potential of solar power with the $5.4 million purchase of the San Francisco-based solar firm Cleantech America.    BAMW: Seeking out socks from American sources When we think of clothing, we often think of shoes or jeans but not necessarily what's in between. Yes, I'm talking about socks.    BAMW: Saving American Manufacturing When the average American thinks about manufacturing, and it seems most rarely do, they tend to think about it as "dying."    Thousands of Volkswagens and Audis Recalled Because of Transmission Problems Only After 'Good Morning America' Started Asking Questions Volkswagen and Audi are recalling 6,000 vehicles because of transmission problems that make them lose power -- or completely stall -- out of the blue. What's most startling is that they're brand new vehicles. "The flash of death" has occured after as little as 81 miles or two days.    Toyota Motor Company Profile from Crocody (Collaberative Research on Corporations) Toyota has used its obsession with quality and efficiency to turn itself into the world's leading automaker. Although the Japanese headquartered company has production and sales operations around the world, its success has been based to a great degree on the United States, where it has built a series of heavily subsidized plants.    U.S. Helps Spanish Company to Buy Texas Bank Guaranty Bank, a deeply troubled Texas lender, was sold on Friday to Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria of Spain in one of the largest government-assisted deals offered to a foreign firm.    Rebates coming for buying new appliances Call it "Cash for Clunkers," the home-appliance edition. Now that your gas-guzzler is off the road, the government is moving on to energy-wasting household appliances.    American Protectionist Society Protectionism Defined: The proper use of government power to: (1) protect the nation from any unfair, institutional foreign interference in the peaceful voluntary cooperation in the division of labor of its citizens; (2) establish taxes on foreign importation as a system of providing a major source of revenue for the general operating expenses of the national government. (Derived from the laws of free market economics.)    US Trade Deficit Grows as Imports Rise The increase reflects a 2.3 percent jump in U.S. imports of goods and services in June - the biggest increase this year. U.S. exports rose 2 percent in the same month.    American Company's Unique "Made in U.S.A" Formula is Bringing Jobs Back to U.S. from China According to Rick Admani Abulhaj, Diagnostic Devices, Inc.'s chief operating officer, "At DDI, we analyzed every angle of our overseas manufacturing and devised a means to bring jobs back to the U.S., while remaining competitive and even cutting costs by a projected 40 percent. The answer to the dilemma is the implementation of cutting-edge automation and robotics technologies that deliver an enhanced bottom-line effect and give us greater control of our operations and our intellectual property."    It Is Now Obama's Economy: America's Oldest Printed Circuit Board Company Closes Its Doors As owner of the Cary, Ill.-based manufacturing company, Doug Bartlett, chairman of Bartlett Manufacturing Co., was hanging on early this year to see if President Barack Obama would change course from the Bush administration's strict adherence to free trade. It was not to be. With the potential for skyrocketing taxes that will be required to pay off the Democrats' massive government stimulus program, which has had little impact on the U.S. electronics manufacturing sector, "I am not going to be the government's sacrificial lamb," Bartlett adds.    China trade official goes to Washington on tires case China is sending a vice minister of trade to Washington to lobby U.S. administration officials against imposing duties on Chinese-made tires, the Ministry of Commerce said on Monday. The Obama administration has until September to decide whether to levy duties up to 55 percent, in the first of a growing list of trade issues with China.    Actress Sued Over Opposition to US Beef A U.S. beef importer filed a 300-million-won ($250,000) compensation suit with a Seoul court against actress Kim Min-sun for allegedly misleading the public into a boycott of their product and damaging sales. "Due to Kim's ignorant comments, people refused to eat U.S. beef. She damaged our business and, furthermore, the 300 billion won domestic market," Park Chang-kyu, the head of A-Meat, reportedly said.    China vs. the U.S.- Who Will Blink First? As of the time of writing this article, we have over $11,675,436,559,627.94 in national debt, with the Chinese holding nearly $800 billion of it.    Foreign Demand for Long-Term U.S. Assets Rebounded Investors in Japan and the U.K. increased their holdings of U.S. assets as the Obama administration sold debt to finance a record budget deficit and fund economic stimulus spending. China, the biggest foreign holder of U.S. Treasuries, decreased its total holdings of U.S. government securities by $25.1 billion to $776.4 billion.    Join the How Americans Can Buy American group on facebook! Are you on facebook? If so, you can join the How Americans Can Buy American group on facebook here and post your comments about buying American on the site.    Ford, Toyota in a close race to No. 1 Make no mistake, there's trouble in Toyota City. The Japanese automaker has lost more than $4.8 billion over the past year. Toyota's critical U.S. sales are down 34% -- worse than the industry's 32% decline. At the end of July, just 7,284 vehicle sales this year stood between Toyota (945,321) and Ford (938,037) in the United States.    Japanese sales climb in 'clunkers' program General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler Group LLC saw a dropoff in sales while those of foreign rivals rose in the latest tally of "cash for clunkers" sales, as Toyota Motor Corp. dethroned GM as the top seller. Toyota has sold 18.9 percent of vehicles purchased through the clunkers program, surpassing GM's 17.6 percent.    Hyundai decides to import Equus luxury full-size sedan The move was expected. Hyundai had imported 100 of these fine equine to the U.S. this summer for customers to test.    New law puts locally produced foods on menu What wasn't calculated in those bids, West says, are the environmental costs - such as carbon emissions - of transporting New Zealand apples to Portland. In addition, West says, public agencies buying local goods keep those dollars in the local economy. And food purchases made from local farmers helps keep local farms viable.    China accuses US of protectionism in tire case A Chinese trade official said Wednesday that a U.S. complaint about China's tire exports smacks of protectionism and appealed to Washington to avoid taking steps that might harm relations. The United Steelworkers union says Chinese tire exports to the United States more than tripled in the 2004-08 period to 41 million tires a year, and that led to the loss of 5,100 American jobs and another 3,000 jobs could be lost this year.    DPJ chief hits at 'US-led' globalism Yukio Hatoyama, the leader of Japan's opposition Democratic party who is strongly placed to become prime minister after elections this month, has condemned "US-led market fundamentalism" and vowed to shield his nation from the effects of untrammelled globalisation.    Another Reason To Hate Protectionism Check out the awesome, well-reasoned response this article.    Survey: Americans don't want Mexican trucks on U.S. highways A new national survey by Rasmussen Reports shows 66 percent of those questioned oppose allowing Mexican trucks on U.S. roads. The same Rasmussen poll found 52 percent want to keep "Buy American" rules in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which requires stimulus money to go mostly to American businesses and contractors. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper wants the U.S. to scrap the rule but only 18 percent in the survey like that idea.    'Britons losing their cherries' as foreign imports wipe out 2,000 years of homegrown fruit It was once the nation's favourite summer fruit, outselling even the strawberry. But now the English cherry is in peril. Faced with competition from global rivals, traditional varieties are in danger of disappearing, say food campaigners. But over the past 50 years, Britain has lost 90 per cent of its cherry orchards and foreign imports now account for nearly 95 per cent of the fruit sold in the shops.    Legislation Would Aid Consumers in Holding Foreign Manufacturers Accountable for Chinese Drywall The Foreign Manufacturers Legal Accountability Act of 2009 (S. 1606) is legislation that will make it easier to hold foreign manufacturers accountable in the U.S. civil justice system, putting them on a level playing field with American manufacturers. Currently, foreign manufacturers are able to skirt the law, exporting billions of dollars of their products to the U.S. without facing accountability for product defects that injure or kill Americans. One example is the 500 million pounds of drywall, made in China, which is plaguing homeowners throughout the country because of the sulfuric gases the drywall emits. Homeowners face multiple obstacles holding the Chinese manufacturers responsible for the destruction the drywall is causing.    U.S. lawmakers urge tariff as part of climate bill Any U.S. climate change law must include tariffs on some products from countries that do not have carbon restrictions, democratic lawmakers said in a letter to the White House on Thursday. "As Congress considers energy and climate legislation, it is important that such a bill include provisions to maintain a level playing field for American manufacturing," the lawmakers said. Ten Senators from heavy industrial states signed the letter, including Sherrod Brown, Democrat of Ohio and Debbie Stabenow, Democrat of Michigan.    Tide of 'Buy American' sweeping across U.S. as municipalities adopt protectionist measures despite Obama's pledge A closer look at the resolutions being adopted across the U.S. reveals something bigger - something more organized - is at play in cities as diverse and distant from each other as Ferndale, Mich., and Hercules, Calif. "Be it further resolved that the City of Ferndale is committed to purchasing products and services made or performed in the United States of America whenever and wherever possible with any economic recovery monies provided to the City," reads a resolution adopted by one council on April 27.    How Americans Can Buy American is now on Facebook! Join the How Americans Can Buy American group and make posts on the site about buying American. There is also a discussion forum where you can discuss what you know about that is made-in-USA so we'll all know! Let's help make this the biggest and best Buy American site on Facebook!    BAMW: Help GM Reinvent itself the Right Way! As the entire auto industry struggles and GM in particular seeks to reinvent itself, the new GM has started a new website at GMIntervention.com where new CEO Fritz Henderson is soliciting ideas from the car buying public.    DPJ manifesto softens pledge to form free-trade pact with U.S. The opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has toned down a pledge to conclude a free-trade agreement with the United States in its manifesto, saying instead it will "promote negotiations." The amendment came in response to criticism from farmers, fearing that they would be washed aside by a flood of cheap imports from the United States.    No One's Minding the Store To talk of "free trade" when China protects and controls everything is fanciful. China's government even offers incentives to invest and produce in China. China, protecting its economy, has become the superpower in the trade war as the United States refuses to protect its economy and remains AWOL in the trade war.    Insights with host Hugh Downs Launches American Made Products Segments The Senior Producer for the programs said, "The series will focus on the importance of keeping manufacturing here in the United States, and the advantages of buying "made in America" products."    China Pressures US Treasury Department for Better Debt Terms The Treasury Department has its work cut out for it this year trying to borrow enough to fund our $2 trillion federal budget deficit, which is five times the deficit of last year. We have already grown quite dependent on loans from the Chinese, which is ironically money earned from selling cheap goods to the USA.    Buy-American vs. safety makes for battle over military uniforms U.S. troops routinely face the threat of roadside bombs while fighting insurgencies in Afghanistan. They need the most protective clothing the market can bear, and they're getting it - for now. Back home, a battle is brewing in Congress over the next lucrative contract for military uniforms. The issue boils down to the raw fiber used in their construction. Current uniforms are made in the United States, in Georgia, using a fabric called Defender M made by the TenCate company. It is favored by the military for its fire-resistant and breathable properties. But the fabric is made with a type of rayon imported from Austria, which normally would violate the military's buy-American requirement.    Debbie Stabenow: 'Buy American' prohibited in 'cash for clunkers' by international law In the wake of yesterday's approval of a $2 billion cash infusion for the 'cash for clunkers' program, Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan says international law prohibited congress from including a "Buy American" provision in the original legislation.    In Tire Tariff Case, Obama Faces First Chinese Trade Policy Test In a hearing scheduled for Friday, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative will consider whether to endorse a recommendation by the International Trade Commission to impose tariffs of as much as 55 percent on Chinese-made tires for passenger vehicles and light trucks that are sold by independent tire dealers.    Offshoring by US companies surges: survey The number of US companies with a corporate offshoring strategy in place more than doubled in the past three years, according to the fifth annual report on offshoring trends, published by Duke University in collaboration with the Conference Board. Of the companies surveyed, 53 percent had a corporate offshoring strategy in place, up from 22 percent in 2005, said the Conference Board, a nonprofit business research organization.    BAMW: American-made home improvement I received an email the other day, as I often do, telling me that there just isn't much out there that's made in USA anymore. But the truth is that there are more American-made goods available than we think if we know where to look    Japan sends U.S. letter on "Buy American" worries In the letter, Japan's ambassador to the United States, Ichiro Fujisaki, said "Taking into consideration the flow from the previous stimulus package, we are concerned that there will be more moves to promote purchasing of American products."    STIMULUS WATCH: Foreign firms eye Obama rail plan The stimulus plan sets aside $8 billion for high-speed rail, a figure that has ambassadors and foreign leaders jockeying to get their preferred companies in on the deal. Though the law requires the U.S. to "buy American" with stimulus money, the rail plan requires so many trains and so much expertise that the administration has conceded foreign companies are likely to be part of it.    Pakistan exports "threat to U.S. jobs" Plans by Washington to allow garment manufacturers in the Taliban-dominated northwestern parts of Pakistan to export their products duty free to the United States are under attack by American apparel makers and unions that believe the policy could come at a high cost to US workers.    Feds: Manufacturer falsely claims 'Made in USA' Enhanced Video Systems, which markets computer and television screen magnifiers, falsely advertised that its products were made in the states but actually are manufactured overseas, the FTC reported. Because the 13-year-old company is based in Huntington Beach and does its designing and assembling locally, company officials believe it warrants a U.S. stamp.    US manufacturing jobs go to China Doug Bartlett's factory used to make electronic circuit boards. But orders collapsed as the recession took hold. The factory shut in March with the loss of 87 jobs. In the past 18 months nearly two million American manufacturing jobs have been lost.    Decline of manufacturing and machine tools Since the crisis of the 1980s, the U.S. machine tool industry has descended to new lows, now ranked seventh in the world with an output last year of $3.8 billion. At the same time, Japan produced $15.8 billion in machine tools, Germany $15.6 billion, and China a remarkable $15 billion. One report says that China now produces one quarter of the world's machine tools.    More "Protectionism" Fever Swamp Dreams If you have any interest in some actual data and observations which rise a few notches above Nick Gillespie's fever swamp ramblings, I invite you to read "How Americans Can Buy American" by Roger Simmermaker.    BAMW: How to avoid tainted dog treats from China When Americans talk about their families, health and safety are obvious primary concerns. And for many Americans, pets are family too, so it makes sense to make sure you feed your pet something that's both safe and won't cause any long-term ill health effects.    US panel OKs two more steel trade cases vs. China The vote allows the Commerce Department to probe industry complaints that China is subsidizing production of the steel grating and the wire strand. It comes on the heels of another probe that could lead to steep duties on about $2.6 billion of Chinese steel tube products used in oil pipelines.    Smithfield Plant Added to Russia's Import Ban Despite this week's visit to Russia, where President Obama and his U.S. Commerce Secretary, Gary Locke, addressed import/export issues, Russian officials announce that more pork product imports will be suspended.    Fixing the leak So how does the American worker compete with four and five dollar-per-day wage scales? You can't, there is no level of productivity, no amount of robots or innovation that will enable you to compete.    BAMW: Bill O'Reilly maintains lame excuse for not buying American Bill O'Reilly has done it again! In a past column, I wrote about O'Reilly's May 22nd mailbag segment where he claimed his "Bold and Fresh" shirts were made in Central America because "We cannot get the volume of shirts we need in America, sadly."    Appleton urged to buy American with grant money If Valley Transit receives nearly $400,000 in federal stimulus funds as is expected to buy three hybrid buses, one thing is certain - the buses will carry the label "Made in the USA."    'Made in USA' required on flags Governor Corzine on Saturday signed legislation requiring that any flag of the United States or the state of New Jersey bought with state funds be manufactured in the United States.    OUR VIEW - To renew economy, renew manufacturing By now, we assume, most Americans have been disabused of the notion that our economy can prosper by letting people in other countries make all the things we want to buy. For those who didn't recognize it before, the economic meltdown should have driven home the reality that the hot shots in the financial sector who merely shuffle money around and wager billions on ephemeral investments don't add any real wealth to our economy; instead they have put millions of Americans at risk.    Finally, A CEO Speaks Up on How to Renew America Immelt exhorted Americans to give up the notion that the U.S. can make it as a services-led, consumption-based economy, where "a mortgage broker is pulling down $5 million a year while a Ph.D. chemist is earning $100,000." The country must refocus on manufacturing and R&D and must strive to be a leading exporter, he said. He announced that GE was opening an advanced manufacturing and software technology center outside of Detroit near the headquarters of Visteon, the auto parts maker that recently sought bankruptcy protection.    Toyota considers shuttering California plant after GM pulls plug on Pontiac "We need to determine whether it can be economically feasible to contract with Nummi without GM," Toyota officials said in their first statement since GM said last month that it would exit the relationship.    The Price of Cheap: When China's Products Fail, Americans Suffer Even if an American company goes to court and beats a Chinese manufacturer for providing faulty products, it's virtually impossible to get the overseas company to make good on its legal debt.    U.S. manufacturers continue innovating amid slump Analysts say it is critical that producers stick to the script and preserve R&D as much as possible. Because once the recovery begins, they will need lots of innovative products in the pipeline if they hope to continue competing against cheaper foreign rivals who, increasingly, cannot be beat on quality.    GM announces $46 million upgrade for Allen County plant When GM pitched the project to the Allen County Council last month, officials said it would allow the plant to retain 50 employees. But union officials have said the move likely will allow the plant to add workers in the coming years.    Study: Political leanings drive car choice "Liberals are the least likely to buy American, but I think you also have to look a little deeper to see that a higher percentage of those liberals would buy only American - more than would buy only foreign," said Roger Simmermaker, author of "How Americans Can Buy American: The Power of Consumer Patriotism."    BAMW: You can help build the biggest "American-made e-guide" on the Internet! Have you ever walked into a Home Depot, OfficeMax, JC Penney, or other major retail chain and thought, "I wish I had a list of products that are made in USA for this store?"    Chinese makers of shoddy goods rarely face U.S. sanctions Chinese manufacturers made more than half of the goods that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled last year, but few of them paid any price for producing defective wares. Moreover, without the threat of high-dollar damage claims, Chinese and other foreign manufacturers can continue to produce shoddy and dangerous goods undeterred.    Nissan EVs To Be Made In America The automaker chose the United States because it hopes to tap Department of Energy loans and grants meant to jump-start the production of eco-friendlier automobiles. The automaker had no comment on the Nikkei story, which was reported by Reuters.    Demand for Made in America brands on rise: Survey As of last month, the research shows that although consumers are still focused on value, there is a rise in those seeking American-made products over cheaper products. There is also a decline in wanting to shop around to save money.    Michaud Introduces Measure to Reform American Trade Policy Congressman Mike Michaud says his legislation, called the TRADE Act, would address the unfair advantage that other businesses in countries like Canada have over Maine businesses. "Health care -- when they have a nationalized health care system, when you look at other components of what Canada offers versus the United States, it puts us at a competitive disadvantage."    Goldcorp Loses Bid for $50 Million in Compensation From U.S. "The fact that Glamis' claim was even possible, that a foreign company could try to undermine U.S. environmental laws in the name of higher profits, shows why our trade agreements' foreign investor rules must be altered," said Margrete Strand Rangnes, director of the Sierra Club's trade program.    100 House Dems want new trade rules Over 100 House Democrats including nine committee chairmen have signed on to legislation that would require President Obama to submit a plan to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and other trade deals.    Mexican trucking group suing U.S. for $6B Mexico's National Cargo Transportation Association (Canacar) announced yesterday, June 1, it is suing the United States for $6 billion because of its refusal to allow Mexican haulers onto its roads as required under the North American Free Trade Agreement.    Free trade pacts prospects 'not good': top US lawmaker Prospects for reviving and approving US free trade pacts with Panama, Colombia and South Korea are "not good," Senate Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell warned Thursday.    I'm Placing My Bet On American Manufacturing In 10 years, we will look back and say this was our moment in time when we turned it around. The re-trenching--or in the case of the American auto industry, re-wrenching--brings us back to our roots. From this time of crisis, American manufacturing will be reborn. Call me an optimist, but consider what's happening in my world, in the fast-paced world of sport bikes.    Beijing orders 'Buy China' for stimulus projects China's World Trade Organization commitments require it to treat foreign and domestic goods equally in commercial trade. But Beijing has not signed a WTO treaty that extends such requirements to government procurement, which might limit options for challenging Beijing's "Buy China" order. Beijing has imposed similar requirements on government projects such as China's giant Three Gorges Dam to favor domestic suppliers of equipment and services.    BAMW: Bill O'Reilly's "Patriot Store" parody If you missed Bill O'Reilly's mailbag segment on May 22, you missed a mockery in the making of any reasonable meaning of what a "Patriot Store" might be all about.    BAMW: American-made, union-made 'Buy American' T-shirts If you're looking for a way to show your American pride and support for buying American, then check out our American-made, union-made "Buy American!" T-shirts in the USA Shop.    Canada passes "Buy Canada" type resolution The nonbinding resolution passed 189-175 at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference in Whistler, British Columbia. The head of the Federation said the delegates hope the resolution, that will not take effect for 120 days, will help strengthen Prime Minister Stephen Harper's case as he lobbies the U.S. for relief from the "Buy American" provision.    American dream fades at Axle plant in Hamtramck "They don't want a middle class," said Alford, 34, standing in the rain, the shoe still untied, referring not only to the managers of American Axle, but also the owners of industry in general. "I see that in the future people will have to move to Mexico for a job. This is a dark day for the American laborer."    Mattel to Pay $2.3 Million Penalty for Toy Hazard Mattel Inc. and its Fisher-Price subsidiary will pay a $2.3 million civil penalty in an agreement with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission for selling Chinese-made toys with hazardous levels of lead.    Lawmaker wants Made in USA Stars and Stripes flapping over state buildings If the Stars and Stripes flies over state-owned, leased or operated buildings, make sure it has a "Made in USA" label, a lawmaker says. That's the hope, anyway, of Sen. Roger N. Kahn, a Saginaw Township Republican. He introduced a bill that would require an American-made "Old Glory" flapping over state government buildings. "If we want to encourage our people to buy products made in America or Michigan, then the state needs to put its money where its mouth is," Kahn said in a statement. "I hope to see my bill become law."    The new 'good' job: 12 bucks an hour Massive investment in renewable energy could ultimately create 4 million manufacturing jobs. But for the workers in the bottom rung of this movement, the shift to green jobs could very well mean a pay cut of nearly 60%, a trend spreading across the entire manufacturing sector. Many of the entry-level jobs making green energy components start at $12 an hour, much less than the now extinct $28 an hour job that had allowed high school-educated workers in the auto sector to achieve middle class status.    Dr. Peter Morici: Friday's US Jobs Report: Unemployment and stock prices heading up Manufacturing remains lower than a snake's belly, because GM and Chrysler are in bankruptcy, and non-auto manufacturing is caught between flagging consumer demand and exports from China subsidized by an artificially suppressed Chinese yuan. Also, China has beefed up subsidies to export recession wrought unemployment.    BAMW: Making your Memorial Day cookout All American On Memorial Day, many Americans will be firing up their outdoor grills for what has become the traditional start of the grilling season. Most will be throwing chicken, ribs, or beef on to the grill, but there's another American favorite you might consider that may be a little less traditional for grilling but certainly no less American.    Class War in America, the Ongoing Assault Protectionism. Capitalists were all for it before they were against it.    Lawmakers Hear Testimony on Importance of Manufacturing Sector to Economy Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) said that a "continuing loss of US manufacturing means a greater dependence on foreign factories to produce both everyday consumer goods and the key elements of our national security, including the building blocks of our nation's infrastructure and the equipment crucial to our nation's military."    TriActive Fitness E-Line Designed and Manufactured in U.S.A. New Made-in-America TriActive Fitness E-Line Outdoor Exercise Products Awarded Contractor Status for the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule. Made of recycled steel and e-coated for extended durability, the nine new E-Line outdoor exercise products are designed and manufactured in the United States.    'Born in the USA,' a fashionable rallying cry? From the East Coast to the West Coast, and everywhere in between, patriotism prevails with apparel and accessories companies forging ahead in honor of some good old American fashion. Bobbie Thomas, TODAY style editor and author of the Buzz column for In Touch Weekly, highlights brands that take pride in their "Made in the USA" label.    Cars hold up South Korean trade deal Under a free trade agreement, the U.S. would drop its 2.5% tariff on auto imports from South Korea. In turn, South Korea would phase out its 8% levy on American cars. The problem, however, is that South Korea is a much smaller market - and American cars suffer from an image problem. "Popularity is very low," say Kyung-Tae Lee, president of the Institute for International Trade in Seoul. "They say craftsmanship is much better (on) Japanese and European (cars) than American."    US lawmakers to revive China tariff bill "By illegally subsidizing its exports through the undervaluation of its currency by 30 per cent or more, China distorts the gains from trade, creates barriers to free and fair trade, harms US industries and has destroyed millions of US jobs," those sponsoring the bill said in a statement.    FDA Recalls Dangerous Face Paints Made In China The Shanghai Color Art Stationery Company and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are issuing a recall for children's face paint that may be harmful when used. The FDA issued a recall after exposure to the product led to "rashes, itchiness, burning sensation, and swelling where the face paints were applied." The FDA tested the paint and found "significant microbial contamination" in "most of the products."    Don't bank on Panama trade pact for job gains In the State Department's own words, "Panama is an offshore financial center that includes offshore banks and various forms of shell companies that have been used by a wide range of criminal groups globally for money laundering."    US lawmakers target China currency policy "The time has come for Congress to stand up for American workers and not allow China to run roughshod over the American economy. With this legislation we will finally force China to stop cheating and level the playing field for America's manufacturers," said Republican Representative Tim Murphy.    Tour promotes buying American cars Jesse B. Jackson about a hundred joined the "Keep It Made in America" bus tour at the hall Tuesday. The tour utilized four buses to visit 36 cities in 11 states and aimed to bring attention to the 7 million jobs supported by the U.S. auto supply chain. The Alliance for American Manufacturing, the Mayors and Municipalities Automotive Coalition and the USW hosted the event.    BAMW: Buying tough American-made work boots isn't tough at all With the ranks of American manufacturing jobs wearing thin these days, wearing American-made work boots from The Union Boot Pro can show you're standing up for an American industry that is in danger of extinction.    Bellevue businessman charged in alleged honey-smuggling operation A Bellevue businessman and his Chinese partner have been charged in Seattle with conspiracy in connection with an international honey-smuggling operation. According to a news release, they hoped to avoid paying huge anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese honey by saying their product was from Thailand or the Philippines.    Honey importer charged A 68-year-old Bellevue resident is charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States in a case involving honey imports. Authorities say Chung Po Liu submitted false paperwork to hide the origin of Chinese honey imports.Ê Liu and Boa Zhong Zhang, a citizen of China, were arrested this morning, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Authorities say the two conspired to avoid import fees by claiming the product was manufactured in Thailand or the Philippines.    Canada challenges U.S. meat labeling at WTO Canada took action against the United States at the World Trade Organization on Thursday over a U.S. meat labeling law that Canadian producers say has hurt their hog and cattle sales.    Laid-off Freightliner workers, union members protest outsourcing at Gastonia march Fraley called for government officials to increase import tariffs so that American manufacturers can compete with foreign plants whose workers earn less in wages and benefits. "The government is not doing what is right for this country," he said. "NAFTA has done more damage to the United States of America than any terrorist group ever could."    Auto workers blame NAFTA for layoffs "Free trade is something I always believe in from the standpoint we have to trade with different people," Representative Sue Myrick said. "That's what happens in a global economy."    Reviving industrial jobs could boost U.S. Using her own money, Michele Nash-Hoff wrote and published a book - "Can American Manufacturing Be Saved?" - and she'll be taking her campaign to the Del Mar Electronics Show on Wednesday and a Republican women's caucus next week. "Manufacturing is the foundation of the U.S. national economy and the foundation of the country's large middle class," Nash-Hoff said. "Losing the critical mass of the manufacturing base will result in larger state and federal budget deficits and a decline in U.S. living standards."    Governor signs 'Made in Georgia' bill Governor Sonny Perdue signed the "Made in Georgia" legislation (SB 44) requiring state agencies to give preference to locally produced items when purchasing or contracting for supplies, materials, equipment, or agricultural products. Nearly 10,000 manufacturing facilities are located in the state, providing jobs for approximately 450,000 Georgians.    Does the U.S. Need an Auto Industry? Without competition from American companies, nothing can stop foreign companies from raising prices, closing American factories or compromising quality. Foreign-owned companies owe no loyalty or corporate responsibility to America. We cannot claim to be an independent nation if our manufacturing base is under foreign ownership or foreign control. If you fly the American flag, then you should drive an American car.    Textiles laud 'made in USA' law The nation?s textile industry has been in a free-fall for years, like much of the U.S. manufacturing base. In an attempt to arrest the plunge, legislation recently passed in Congress mandates that uniforms and other textile products bought by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) be American-made.    Marchers to protest NAFTA in downtown Gastonia Saturday Union leaders from Freightliner are planning a march in downtown Gastonia on Saturday - a week ahead of another 80 layoffs at the Gastonia components and logistics plant - to protest the North American Free Trade Agreement.    Sen. Sherrod Brown wants to halt new trade deals pending review U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, concerned that President Barack Obama has backed off a pre-election pledge to get tough with trading partners over environmental and labor standards, called for a time-out Wednesday on new United States trade deals. Brown, an Ohio Democrat, said Wednesday, "If in fact President Obama does not open up NAFTA for review, we must not continue the failed system for future trade agreements."    American Cars Shouldn't Be Foreign to Liberals Roger Simmermaker, author of "How Americans Can Buy American: The Power of Consumer Patriotism," says buyers need to get past their foreign-brand loyalty and long-held misconceptions. "It's a really tough thing to get people to change their minds about the quality of American cars, but the quality is there," he says. The self-described protectionist also makes a patriotic argument that buying U.S. cars helps the country. American automakers have more factories in the United States, Simmermaker says-more than 100, compared to eight apiece for Toyota, Honda and Nissan. He says U.S. firms buy more parts from American companies and they pay more taxes to the U.S. government. "We should be supporting the companies that support America the most," Simmermaker says.    The Flip Side of the Perfect Prius Sometimes the cars accelerate on their own. Sometimes they stop dead. Drivers of the hybrid Prius have discovered they can be an unexpected adventure.    Canada revives WTO complaint on U.S. meat label law Discrimination against Canadian companies due to implementation of Buy American provisions in the recently passed U.S. stimulus bill has already appeared on some U.S. water and sewage treatment projects, prompting at least one Canadian city government to press for a ban on U.S. companies and goods doing business in Canada's public works sector, Canada's Trade Minister Stockwell Day said.    Nearly 400 Communities Pass 'Buy American' As of Friday, a "Buy American" resolution pushed by United Steelworkers members and the Alliance for American Manufacturing has passed in 362 states and municipalities nationwide. In all, more than 1,000 resolutions have been introduced in cities, towns, villages, states, school boards, counties and other localities from Akron, Ohio to Salt Lake City, Utah and beyond.    BAMW: Quality American-made cutlery and more If you've had trouble finding American-made kitchen cutlery, utensils, bakeware and other accessories at retail stores, maybe you should try shopping online instead.    Pipe Made in India Incenses Illinois Town Jeff Rains, a retired steelworker went out walking a month ago, and waited impatiently at a rail crossing while a freight train slowly passed, its flatbed cars stacked with steel pipes, each wide enough for a child to crawl through. Then he noticed "Made in India" stenciled on the pipes. Hundreds of sections of imported steel pipe have been moving into Granite City for use in an oil pipeline. The steel mill, meanwhile, has been shut since December for lack of orders - the first time in its 130-year history - and nearly 2,000 workers are on furlough.    Buy Indonesian label 'not protectionism' President Susilo Bambang Yudho-yono officially launched Wednesday the "Love Indonesia 100%" logo, a sign of the government's intensifying effort to bolster the consumption of domestic products. The campaign is aimed at helping local industries survive the impact of the global economic crisis, which has caused global demand for Indonesian products to shrink. "The 'Love Indonesia' campaign does not mean protectionism," Yudhoyono said.    Japan Pays Foreign Workers to Go Home Rita Yamaoka, a mother of three who immigrated from Brazil, recently lost her factory job here. Now, Japan has made her an offer she might not be able to refuse. The government will pay thousands of dollars to fly Mrs. Yamaoka; her husband, who is a Brazilian citizen of Japanese descent; and their family back to Brazil. But in exchange, Mrs. Yamaoka and her husband must agree never to seek to work in Japan again.    Free trade advocates overlook China's predatory trade policies A handful of individuals questioned whether it was such a good idea to be spending so much money moving materials, such as cotton, from the West Coast to the Far East and back when we had a perfectly good textile industry in the United States. The retail establishment - the Macy's, the Dillards, the Wal-Marts, the Targets - turned a deaf ear. Their attitude, in general, seemed to be: Don't bother us, we're making money here. If the United States could count on others to develop industries where they have an economic advantage and not use predatory pricing that would be one thing. But, too often, countries such as China have poured billions of dollars into industries where they had no such advantage unless you count dollar-a-day labor.    Pa. Senate urges local buying In an effort to deter further economic erosion, the Pennsylvania Senate is working on a resolution urging Pennsylvanians to buy domestic goods. Senate Resolution 62, which was referred to the Labor and Industry committee on April 2, said the economic downturn is having a "critical impact on everyday Americans" who are struggling to find jobs. It goes on to say that if recovery funds are reinvested into American products and services, it will help stabilize the economy, creating additional jobs and "restoring the economic vitality of our communities."    Iowa House passes "buy American" resolution The Iowa House has taken action on one measure so far this morning. It wasn't a bill, though. It was a resolution urging congress to "buy American" when spending the money in the federal economic stimulus package.    Steel Associations Protest Chinese Trade Policies on Steel Eight steel trade associations from three continents have jointly submitted comments to the Chinese Industry Policy Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology over trade policies in regard to steel. "Invariably, these problems can be traced to China's pursuit of industrial policies that rely on excessive, trade-distorting government interventions intended to promote or protect China's domestic industries."    Get American-made khakis and support a U.S. Military supplier Ever wondered how you could order from the same suppliers to the U.S. military for yourself on a consumer level?    Buying American: Helpful or hurtful for the struggling U.S. economy? "If you have a Toyota made in the U.S.A. and a Chevrolet made in the U.S.A., it does matter," said Simmermaker, whose book "How Americans Can Buy American" is in its third edition. "Toyota's having trouble, just like all the automakers, but Toyota doesn't need to be saved right now. General Motors does. Charity starts at home - let's keep our home companies operating."    Lawsuit alleges that Chinese drywall corrupted home, caused health problems Some unseen force was corroding Jill Donaldson's house. Almost immediately after she and her husband moved into the home they built in Pearl River in 2007, the coils in their air-conditioning system blackened and fizzled. The faucets in the master bathroom began to pock and rust. Three of their television sets burned out within a year.    China, 2 Chinese firms to buy 2 Delphi businesses Two Chinese companies and the Chinese government signed an agreement Monday to acquire Delphi Corp.'s brakes and suspension businesses, the most high-profile acquisition yet by the Chinese in the American auto industry. The Chinese auto supplier Tempo Group, which has its U.S. research and development operations in Canton, will acquire a 24% stake in the Delphi businesses. China's Capital Iron & Steel Co. will purchase a 51% stake, and the Beijing government will own the remaining 25%. The Delphi businesses will be owned by a new Chinese company called Beijing West Industries Co. Ltd., based in Beijing.    China Offers Subsidy to Boost Spending At Home Facing slumping demand for Chinese goods overseas, China's government is trying to stimulate consumption at home - spending $2.25 billion to subsidize discounts on made-in-China fridges, washing machines, mobile phones, TVs and cars for its rural residents.    Make America's economy greater while enjoying the great outdoors If you plan to spend more time enjoying the outdoors now that Spring is finally here and fishing is one of your hobbies, you might want to check out the American-made fishing reels by Ardent Outdoors.    Trade barriers rise as the recession's grip tightens Russia has raised tariffs on used cars. China has tightened import standards on food, banning Irish pork, among other things. India has banned Chinese toys. Argentina has tightened licensing requirements on auto parts, textiles and leather goods. And a dozen countries, from the United States to Australia, are subsidizing embattled automakers or car dealers.    Japan automakers' sales tumble in February Toyota Motor Corp., Japan's largest automaker, reported that worldwide auto production, fell by 49.6% in February from a year ago, to 434,179 units. February auto output in Japan fell by 64% and domestic sales were down by 32.5%, with exports falling 68.5%. Including the two subsidiaries, Japanese production was down 56.4%, domestic sales fell 25.2% and exports sank 68.4%.    China Draws Nearer China's low-cost manufacturing hubs, like the Pearl River Delta near Hong Kong, now control an overwhelming share of the world market in everything from toys to low-end electronics. "China has become the quintessential trading nation, whose international commerce dramatically increases its national power," notes David Zweig, an expert on China's trade and investment at the Center on China?s Transnational Relations at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.    'Buy American' pitch worries Canada Buried deep in the Water Quality Investment Act of 2009 -- a proposed piece of legislation that would grant billions to state and local governments -- Buy American is alive and well. Unless the water legislation is changed, John Hayward, president of Hayward Gordon Ltd., a small pump maker in Ontario, said he'll have to lay off more than 10 per cent of his work force and shift some production to the United States -- a scenario that could be replicated hundreds of times as Canadian suppliers are shut out of lucrative local projects.    BAMW: American Art on American-made canvases How would you like to beautify and brighten up every room in your home in a one-of-a-kind fashion that literally no one else could duplicate?    WTO to look into US rules on 'dolphin-safe' tuna The World Trade Organization will consider a complaint by Mexico next week alleging that U.S. rules on "dolphin-safe" tuna are illegal, according to an agenda released Tuesday. Mexico says U.S. labeling restrictions effectively exclude Mexican tuna from the U.S. market and have caused a third of the nation's tuna fleet to shut down.    U.S. to Toughen Its Stance On Trade The Obama administration is aggressively reworking U.S. trade policy to more strongly emphasize domestic and social issues, from the displacement of American workers to climate change.    Flying the flag Bryan Aldridge is betting that the recession will encourage more bosses to think like Mr Charles. He and a partner have just kicked off a new venture, My American Jobs, which plans to create a certification process to help customers identify products in which most of the materials and labour were sourced in America.    More catfish exporters escape US anti-dumping tariffs The US Department of Commerce has decided to abolish the imposition of anti-dumping tariffs on exports from two more Vietnamese catfish exporters, said the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors (VASEP).    Trade Concerns Raised in U.S. Climate Debate "If a U.S. company, say a steel mill in Ohio, if their cost goes up dramatically for cutting carbon, it's one more reason to think they're not going to be competitive.... They lose jobs. [The state] loses manufacturing," Senator Sherrod Brown said during an event on green jobs hosted by the Worldwatch Institute and Heinrich Böll Foundation. "We need some guarantee that my state will not be overwhelmed by the costs [of a climate change bill]."    EU slaps tariffs on U.S. biodiesel U.S. exporters of biodiesel to the EU must pay additional anti-dumping duties of up to 29 percent, and anti-subsidy duties of between 29-41 percent for an initial six months. The measure will start from Friday. As EU's biggest importing partner, the United States imported more than 1.5 million tons of goods in 2008, while in 2005, the import volume was 7,000 tons.    ECONOMIC PATRIOTISM (or, No Ford in My Futura) After years of "Free-trade" policies, which have primarily meant that anything could be imported into the United States market without tariffs - though generally, the exporting country doesn't reciprocate - the concept of protectionism is re-entering the discussion. And it's starting in France. This week, French President Nicolas Sarkozy put his foot down. While French carmakers are getting government funding (Citroen Peugeot, specifically), they may not take that money and open plants in the cheaper-labor Czech Republic. The French taxpayer's money must employ French autoworkers in French plants.    China's imports and exports tumble Lower prices can be good news for consumers. But in times of recession or economic slowdown, they are also a sign that demand has fallen and producers have had to lower prices to sell their products. China had seen double-digit growth since 2001 as consumers worldwide bought Chinese goods. However, exports were hit hard starting in late 2008 because of the global economic crisis.    Winchester plants to cut 450 jobs Winchester, Kentucky, will receive a triple blow to its economy this year as three automotive parts factories plan to cut more than 450 jobs from the community. The reductions reflect the wide reach of the plummeting automotive industry. Nissan, General Motors and Honda are the biggest customers of Niles America, Patterson said. Reflecting the drop in auto sales, Niles, a maker of switches for cars, has had their sales cut in half.    Obama may face trade showdown with Mexico if Congress ends funding for trucking program The Senate is considering a $410 billion House-passed spending bill that halts funding for the Mexican truck program. Two years ago, the Senate voted 74-24 to cut off the program's funding. Voting with the majority at the time were Obama and Joe Biden, now the vice president. Senate Republicans don't even plan trying to keep the program alive now that a Democrat is in the White House.    U.S. warns of need to fix "imbalance" in Doha talks The United States warned on Monday there would be no agreement in long-running world trade talks until other countries make stronger commitments to open their markets to U.S. goods.    Workers in sit-in to get jobs back under new owner The sale of a Chicago windows factory owned by Republic Windows & Doors where workers staged a six-day sit-in last December has been approved by a bankruptcy judge, clearing the way for the business to reopen in about a month and rehire those workers, union officials said. California-based Serious Materials, who plans to build energy-efficient windows at the site, will gradually rehire workers at the pay rate they received before the plant was shut down under an agreement with United Electrical Workers Local 1110.    Feds give AIG $30 billion more The company today reported a net fourth-quarter loss of $61.7 billion, the largest quarterly loss in U.S. history.    Bring back manufacturing A decade ago, Ross Perot phrased the famous line regarding the passage of NAFTA as "the giant sucking sound of jobs leaving the U.S." Nobody paid him much attention. Guess where those jobs went? Our homes and garages are packed full of imported stuff; it's time to buy "made in the USA."    Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger To Congress: My Pay Has Been Cut 40 Percent In Recent Years, Pension Terminated The reduced compensation has placed "pilots and their families in an untenable financial situation," Sullenberger said. "I do not know a single professional airline pilot who wants his or her children to follow in their footsteps." Sullenberger himself has started a consulting business to help make ends meet. Sullenberger's copilot Jeffrey B. Skiles added, "For the last six years, I have worked seven days a week between my two jobs just to maintain a middle class standard of living."    The Spectacular, Sudden Crash of the Global Economy For almost 40 years, smooth-talking snake-oil salesmen in well-tailored suits have pitched the wonders of a globalized economy. Politicians and pundits alike insisted that the wealthy states at the core of that worldwide economy could shift labor-intensive production to the poorer countries at the edges, in search of a cheaper pair of hands and less nettlesome regulations, and that ordinary working people would benefit.    Bill aims to halt Mexican truck travel in U.S. A $410 billion spending bill House Democrats presented Monday includes language that would prevent Mexican-licensed trucks from traveling beyond commercial zones along the U.S.-Mexico border. The wording is aimed at ending a pilot program backed by the Bush administration that permitted up to 500 U.S.-certified trucks access deep into the U.S.    Auto team drives imports Among the eight members named Friday to the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry and the 10 senior policy aides who will assist them in their work, two own American models. Gene Sperling, counsel to the Treasury Secretary, owns a 2003 Lincoln LS, and previously owned a 1993 Saturn SL2. Edward B. Montgomery, senior adviser to the Labor Department, owns a 1991 Harley-Davidson and previously owned a 1990 Ford Taurus L station wagon, public records show.    Buy America means more jobs For more than 75 years, Buy America laws have been on the books. So it would have been highly unusual if they did not apply to this massive new investment in America's infrastructure. Free market advocate Ronald Reagan actually expanded Buy America rules in 1982, in the midst of a recession. No trade war was sparked then; no trade war will be sparked now.    New Labatt USA owner may add jobs in Buffalo The new owner of Labatt USA says the business headquarters will stay in Buffalo, and it could add local jobs. KPS Capital Partners, a New York City-based private equity firm, has agreed to buy Labatt USA from Anheuser-Busch In- Bev for an undisclosed amount. The deal needs the approval of the U. S. Justice Department. KPS is also buying High Falls Brewing Co. of Rochester, maker of Genesee and Dundee brands.    'Made in the USA' label getting harder to find In January, 207,000 U.S. manufacturing jobs vanished in the largest one-month drop since October 1982. Factory activity is hovering at a 28-year low. Even before the recession, plants were hemorrhaging work to foreign competitors with cheap labor. And some companies were moving production overseas.    Obama vows honesty in budgets In 2008 alone, we paid $250 billion in interest on our debt - one in every 10 taxpayer dollars. That is more than three times what we spent on education that year; more than seven times what we spent on VA health care.    EU tariffs would be a setback for U.S. biodiesel The tariffs would be temporary but could be made permanent once the European Commission finishes an investigation of surging U.S. imports, according to Dow Jones Newswires. Nowhere in this story does it mention the Buy American provision of the Economic Stimulus bill as a reason, and the EU certainly doesn't seem to worry about retaliation for their increased tariffs.    BAMW: Shopping with Roger Have you had trouble finding and buying American-made products? Then buy what I buy!    Fate of American car is unclear Americans say they would rather buy domestically-made products. Three-quarters of 537 car shoppers surveyed on its Web site by Kelley Blue Book in December said they prefer to buy U.S.-made products.    NC congressman's 'buy American' provision enacted The law expands a rule that military uniforms be made and assembled in the United States to include textiles worn and used by Transportation Security Administration officers who monitor airports and other transportation systems.    'Buy American' Concerns Japan's Steel Industry Chief "It is quite regrettable because this kind of measure that prioritizes products made in one's own country might spread protectionism around the world," said Shoji Muneoka, chairman of the Japan Iron and Steel Federation.    Obama wants to reopen NAFTA but keep trade flowing "As I've said before, NAFTA, the basic framework of the agreement, has environmental and labor protections as side agreements. My argument has always been that we might as well incorporate them into the full agreement so that they're fully enforceable," he said in the interview with CBC television.    Toyota Takes the Knife to U.S. Labor Costs Toyota is offering buyouts to 18,000 U.S. workers, reducing wages, and slashing bonuses.    Check out China's "America is For Sale Expo 09" Expo in Beijing shows Chinese investors how to buy American assets.    FACTBOX: "Buy American" provision in U.S. stimulus bill The stimulus package includes about $48 billion in transportation projects, roughly $30 billion in infrastructure improvements and additional other spending that could be covered by the Buy American provision.    That 'Buy American' Provision Author Roger Simmermaker, Senator Sherrod Brown and others weigh in on a New York Times blog.    BAMW: Buying American, recovery, and reinvestment If you listen to most the media's misguided free market cheerleaders, the "Buy American" provision in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will prevent our economy from experiencing any kind of recovery or reinvestment.    Commentary: Free trade has sold out the American worker We face rampant protectionism across the globe. Pursuing a free trade agenda in a protectionist world is tantamount to unilateral disarmament.    Unions call for "Buy Canadian" policy The CAW and the USW criticized Canada's response to the U.S. provision on Tuesday, saying it ignored the fact that Buy American rules for federal purchases have existed since 1933 and that Buy American rules for state and local transport infrastructure have existed since 1982.    Stimulus Plan Has Limited 'Buy America' Provisions United Steelworkers Union president Leo Gerard says America's trading partners are hypocritical. "The European economic union has stronger Buy European provisions than we do in the U.S. law," says Gerard. "When the Chinese put forward their multi-trillion dollar economic renewal program, they didn't buy any products here. In fact, they flooded our market with dumped products."    House member open to Senate "Buy American" plan The Senate Buy American provision is broader than the House version in one important way because it requires public works projects funded by the stimulus bill to use U.S.-made manufactured goods in addition to U.S.-made iron and steel.    CAT chairman named to Obama's team Other advisory board members include former SEC Chairman William Donaldson; Harvard University professor Martin Feldstein, General Electric Co. CEO Jeffrey R. Immelt; and two labor officials ? Anna Burger of Service Employees International Union and Richard Trumka of the AFL-CIO.    LETTER: Stimulus bill should be for America Buying foreign goods and materials puts foreigners to work and stimulates their economies, not ours - unless you want to count the low-paying retail sales jobs where foreign-made goods are sold. Even Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke says Americans need to buy more "domestically produced products."    Tentative deal on Senate stimulus bill There are funds, as well, for construction of highways and bridges, and it also includes a "Buy American" protectionist measure for iron and steel that has drawn strong criticism from major U.S. trading partners including Japan, Australia and Canada.    U.S. FDA Reports Show Unapproved Chemicals Used by Largest Chilean Salmon Farms; Pew Urges FDA to Increase, Expand Tests on Imported Farmed Fish The documents further show that the farmed salmon containing residues of unapproved chemicals were destined for the U.S. market.    Wal-Mart Aims To Go Green With Global Supply Chain Makeover Wouldn't it be much easier and cheaper to just return to manufacturing goods in the U.S. instead of trying to monitor and change the rest of the world?    Ports to begin clean-trucks fee on cargo after delays The ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles will begin collecting a $35 per cargo container fee on Feb. 18 to help subsidize the replacement of thousands of polluting trucks, it was announced Wednesday. The fee is expected to raise about $1 million a day or about $1billion over the next few years at both San Pedro Bay ports to finance 80 percent of the cost to replace many of the 17,000 trucks that are a leading source of air pollution in the region, said Richard D. Steinke, executive director of Port of Long Beach.    Institute proposing fish farm in federal waters "We really have a choice as a country," said Michael Rubino, aquaculture chief for the U.S. oceanic administration. "If we are going to eat more seafood, we are either going to import more of it - and most of that is from aquaculture - or we can choose to grow more of it at home."    To Survive, Americans Must Assert Themselves as Economic Patriots Last year, the Government Accountability Office reported that "Buy America" policies are effective by "protecting domestic employment through national infrastructure improvements that can stimulate economic activity and create jobs; protecting against unfair competition from foreign firms as a result of foreign government subsidies; and maintaining national security interests through the continued use and development of certain industries within the U.S. economy, like the iron and steel industries."    Is Obama Forgetting About Main Street? A country that month after month after month records trade deficits in the range of $50 billion to $60 billion--astronomical levels of imbalance between what is spent on imports versus what is earned from exports--is failing to compete, or even to function, in the global economy. And it certainly is not influencing the shape of that economy for the betterment of workers at home or abroad.    Unless we rebuild our manufacturing base, America cannot restore prosperity Millions of American manufacturing jobs have now been lost, as they have been outsourced to other nations of the world. America has been transformed from a powerful engine of manufacturing to a docile service economy, and this has been disastrous for our nation and our workers.    Why Buy American? The allowing of multinational entities to dictate and control American trade policy through their unashamedly bribery of public officials, with contributions and lobbying jobs, has created a situation in which the American worker and citizen has all but no say in the economic policy of our country.    Buy American: Rethinking Smoot-Hawley It's high time to stop treating "protectionism" like a dirty word when you're talking about protecting American jobs and industry. Look at the real numbers of Americans not just unemployed (rising by the week) but underemployed (the downsized worker from Sun Microsystems whose job went to India and is now working at Starbucks) and also those who have simply given up looking for work. Protectionism? Damned straight, Skippy. And high time for it, too.    Is America Weighed Down By 'Dead Ideas'? In his new book, The Tyranny of Dead Ideas, Matt Miller writes that while many of our current notions of economic and social well-being made sense when they first gained traction 50 years ago, they don't hold much water today. On the list of outmoded beliefs: the ideas that our children will earn more than we do; that free trade is good; that financial markets can regulate themselves; that taxes are bad; and that the company we work for should provide us with health care and pensions.    BAMW: There is no constitutional right to import Now that the House of Representatives has passed, and the U.S. Senate is considering, an economic stimulus bill which includes a "Buy American" provision that pretty much prohibits purchasing foreign iron and steel for projects involving rebuilding America's infrastructure, foreign countries across the globe are complaining as if to suggest our U.S. Constitution has it's own clause that guarantees foreign counties' right to import into the United States.    Steel-state lawmakers vow to save 'Buy American' Senator John McCain, an Arizona Republican, was expected to offer an amendment to strip the Buy American provision from the Senate's stimulus bill, while other lawmakers were working on changes to make sure it was consistent with U.S. trade pacts.    Senate OKs auto-buying incentive plan Essentially, the amendment would make interest and sales taxes deductible on new-vehicle purchases for the remainder of the year, says Dennis DesRosiers, president of DesRosiers Automotive Consultants in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada.    Obama's free traders mum on protection "[I]n this case, when American taxpayers are paying a huge amount of money to stimulate jobs in the United States, the argument can be made that the extra cost to the government and the slight antagonism of foreign governments may be worth it," said Reich, who sparred with Summers and Clinton Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin over trade. He said if the U.S. stimulus bill leads foreign governments to pass similar bills benefiting their own domestic industries, "so much the better."    Top Republican: Scrap 'buy American' stimulus clause The US Senate should strip a "Buy American" clause from President Barack Obama's economic stimulus plan, the chamber's top Republican said Monday amid anger at the restriction from US allies.    Obama facing dilemma over protectionism The "buy American" provisions would require major public works projects to favor U.S. steel, iron and manufacturing over imports.    Detroit's pain reaches state The Pend Oreille Mine, the largest employer in a sparsely populated area north of Spokane near the Canadian border, is closing indefinitely Feb. 16 because of plummeting zinc prices, leaving 217 workers without jobs. Zinc is used to make steel rustproof for use in cars and trucks, among other products.    More Layoffs at Caterpillar More than 2,000 CAT employees in Illinois were notified Friday that they would be laid off beginning April 13th. More than 750 production, support, and management employees in East Peoria have been laid off.    Buy American, buy local In days gone by, we did not rely on foreign production as we do now. Historically, we never had trade deficits that were not in our favor. We did not toss away American workers and decent products for inferior, foreign-made goods to save a few dollars here and there. In the past, we as a people made what we bought, and we bought those goods in stores owned and run by our neighbors. We looked out for one another by basing our buying decisions on pride of workmanship, quality and country.    Longaberger unveils pottery made in U.S.A. "Made in America matters," company president and chief executive Tami Longaberger said in a press release. "Rebuilding our nation's economy requires an investment in America and its workers. It is the right thing to do. It is what we're about."    'Buy American' not protectionism, says union Instead of complaining about U.S. policies, Gerard said the Canadian government should work to protect their own domestic industry.    Wiley Rein Wins Diamond Sawblade Dumping Appeal The Court of International Trade ruling comes too late for two members of the U.S. coalition, which Pickard told us have gone out of business. But the remaining U.S. manufacturers, he said, can now expect a level playing field in the diamond sawblade industry: In the next few weeks the U.S. Department of Commerce will begin to collect deposits on the imported blades.    WTO Agrees to Rule of Chinese Complaint The United States has imposed anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on two types of steel pipes, pneumatic tires and woven sacks, the Financial Times reported Tuesday. Dumping is the practice of selling products abroad at prices lower than the products fetch in the producer country.    Home inspectors learning more about dangerous Chinese drywall Inspectors say copper wiring found in air conditioning units seems to break down because of the sulfur compounds being put off from the Chinese drywall. "What we learned is that the Chinese drywall was shipped into Port Manatee in Tampa, and then distributed to local suppliers."    Drywall case expands The Gypsum Association said its analysis of government trade data found about 300 million square feet of drywall from China was imported into the U.S. from 2006 to 2007. Experts say dozens of Southwest Florida builders might have used the material. "It's going to be the exception to be a builder that wasn't touched by this," Foreman said.    Bills push for Hoosiers to "buy American" The buy-American bill, sponsored by David L. Niezgodski, D - South Bend, gives a $1,000 tax credit to Hoosiers who buy construction equipment, cars, trucks, tractors or recreational vehicles that includes 70 percent of American-made products.    GE, Caterpillar Fight 'Buy American' Rule in Stimulus General Electric Co. and Caterpillar Inc. are among U.S. exporters that oppose "Buy American" provisions in the $825 billion stimulus legislation, saying it might spark a trade war. The companies say that proposals pushed by companies such as U.S. Steel Corp. and Nucor Corp. to limit spending in the stimulus plan to American-made iron and steel risk igniting retaliation from other countries.    US and France at War over Food Tariffs France and the United States are engaged in another food war, and this time it's not over fries. The French government was infuriated by the legacy that President George W. Bush implemented right before leaving office: enacting a colossal tax on France's prized Roquefort cheese. While he imposed a 100 percent import duty on many products from the European Union, the former US President singled out the pungent blue cheese for a 300 percent tariff.    Geithner signals tougher stance on China Treasury Secretary-designate Timothy Geithner says President Barack Obama believes China is "manipulating" its currency, a declaration that American manufacturers have long sought in their efforts to combat America's soaring trade deficit with China.    BAMW: American-made products for American outdoor living There's a friendly and growing company in the largest alpine valley in America, inside the beautiful Sierra Valley of California, that offers American-made products that embody the pioneer spirit when America was discovered and settled.    Florida Citrus Faces Tax War in Battle over Orange Juice Imports Florida Department of Citrus officials have been warned a proposed new tax on orange juice imports faces a certain legal challenge, but foreign importers have threatened a much bigger fight against the federal tariff on OJ imports if the Florida Legislature approves the new tax. Eliminating the federal tariff would wipe out any competitive advantage Florida citrus growers have against the citrus industry in Brazil, the world's largest orange grower and juice processor. Brazil is also the source of most OJ imports to Florida and would bear the burden of any new state imports tax.    China Slams Geithner's Comments on Currency A top official at China's central bank hit back Saturday at comments by U.S. Treasury Secretary-designate Timothy Geithner, who said the Obama administration believes that China is manipulating its currency. "We should avoid any excuse that might lead to the revitalization of trade protectionism. Because it will do no good to the fight against the crisis, nor will it help the healthy and stable development of the global economy," Su said during a visit to a Beijing business newspaper.    China Jittery About Obama Amid Signs of Harder Line China starts off on weaker footing with Mr. Obama than it did with his predecessor, George W. Bush. Mr. Bush and his last Treasury secretary, Henry M. Paulson Jr., cultivated Chinese leaders and refused to call Beijing a manipulator.    Our Current Economic Environment Is No Longer Sustainable The reality, however, is that Sherrod Brown, the junior Senator from Ohio, just gets it, writing in an April Op-Ed piece "Eight times I have taken the oath of office to support and defend the United States. My colleagues and I commit ourselves to protecting our nation from all enemies, foreign and domestic. That includes protecting our neighborhoods from unsafe products. And, yes, that also means protecting our workers and businesses from unfair competition."    'Buy American' support builds as sales fall "Buy American" is a revived sentiment these days in Michigan, particularly after lawmakers from states where foreign automakers have operations opposed loans to Detroit automakers. A 2007 Free Press poll found that only 15% of Michigan families owned a car from a foreign-owned company. In the United States, about half the new passenger vehicles purchased are products of the foreign-owned companies.    Bowling balls rolling again at Muskegon plant Taking up the Brunswick Corp. tradition of bowling ball production that was moved to Mexico in 2006, a small independent producer of bowling items has launched a new line of professional-grade balls. The Motiv line of bowling balls is being made out of the Wilbur Products plant in Muskegon Heights.    Obama Team Reviewing 'Buy American' Plank in Stimulus President-elect Barack Obama's advisers are looking at including a "buy American" provision in the economic-stimulus legislation that the incoming administration has made its first priority. "We are reviewing the buy American proposal and we are committed to a plan that will save or create 3 million jobs, including jobs in manufacturing," said Jen Psaki, a spokeswoman for Obama's transition team.    The U.S. Trade Deficit Caused the Recession and the Financial Crisis The recession and financial crisis has been caused by the transfer of jobs and our wealth to foreign countries. First we lost our jobs, and then our wealth.    Made in America: True independence Unfortunately, America has little production capacity to build storage batteries any more. There are some small start-up companies in America hoping to build batteries, but chances are they would struggle to meet the huge, growing demand. It is sad to see our country developing new vehicles and having to rely on foreign companies to power them. Can we learn nothing from our past?    Look At All Those New Cars As we watched and they commented on relatives lost long ago, I would periodically ask my father-in-law, "How did you ever get by without foreign cars?" No Toyotas, no Hondas, no Kia or Subaru, and yet somehow these people seemed happy. They had a nice home, a nice car, a good Christmas for the kids, and all on a middle-class income.    A123 Systems plans U.S. battery production Battery maker A123 Systems plans to build automotive battery manufacturing facilities in the United States and has applied for $1.84 billion in government loans to fund the construction, the company said on Wednesday.    New Round Lake Beach business sells only U.S.-made merchandise Nitai Pandya and Mia Kenig-Bujnarowski recently opened American Aisle, a shop where all the merchandise is made in the United States.    Unhealthy trading Despite trade and health issues, Chinese producers and cohorts are using a number of other countries as transshipment points to conceal the origin of their honey before it enters this country.    BAMW: Toys Made in America Have you been looking for toys made in America? Then why not visit www.toysmadeinAmerica.com, where you'll see literally dozens of links to all kinds of toys, games, puzzles, books and sports accessories?    US steel industry urges 'buy America' recovery plan Daniel DiMicco, chairman and chief executive of Nucor Corp (NUE.N), a giant steel maker, told the paper the industry was asking the incoming administration to "deal with the worst economic slowdown in our lifetime through a recovery program that has in every provision a 'buy America' clause."    U.S. blocks China trade dispute at WTO China is objecting to duties imposed by Washington to counter what it sees as unfairly priced imports. According to U.S. authorities, the goods were sold in the U.S. market for less than they cost at home and benefited from subsidies.    China protests US import duties at WTO: report Import duties on four product categories including steel pipes and off-road tyres were first levied by the United States in September. Despite China's protests, the US International Trade Commission claimed the duties were necessary to offset subsidies by the Chinese government to those exports, the report said.    Cooper Tire to close Georgia facility, affecting 1,400 jobs Cooper Tire cited pressure from increased lower-priced imports and softening domestic demand for products.    Administration refuses to cite China on currency But in the report, which must be submitted to Congress every six months, the administration said China did not meet the standards set in U.S. law for being cited as a currency manipulator.    George Bush, Protectionist Bush may believe he has sinned against free-market principles, but he is following the path of his great free-market predecessor. Ronald Reagan, too, was not prepared to see Japan take down the U.S. auto industry, or steel industry, or computer chip industry, or Harley-Davidson.    US drags China to WTO over 'protectionist' policy We are going to the WTO today because we are determined to use all resources available to fight industrial policies that aim to unfairly promote Chinese-branded products at the expense of American interests, said US Trade Representative Susan Schwab.    Hypocrisy of auto buyers of America As you are sitting in your car at an intersection, take a look around you at what kind of vehicles surround you. You will be aware, as I have become, that the vast majority of the cars Sioux Falls drivers are driving are either pickups, minivans or SUVs. Detroit made the mistake of following one of the oldest rules of capitalism - make the products that are most profitable and most popular with the buying public.    Trade Barriers Toughen With Global Slump Moving to shield battered domestic manufacturers from foreign imports, Indonesia is slapping restrictions on at least 500 products this month, demanding special licenses and new fees on imports. Russia is hiking tariffs on imported cars, poultry and pork. France is launching a state fund to protect French companies from foreign takeovers. Officials in Argentina and Brazil are seeking to raise tariffs on products from imported wine and textiles to leather goods and peaches, according to the World Trade Organization.    Woes of U.S. auto industry cross border into Mexico Volkswagen is producing nearly as many vehicles in Mexico as GM. Just two weeks ago, Norwegian automotive supplier Kongsberg Automotive announced it would close facilities in Ohio and Kansas and move work to Mexico. China's state-owned FAW Group is building an auto-assembly plant in Michoacan state that by 2010, will be the first to produce Chinese cars in Mexico.    BAMW: Welcome to the Congressional Car Company, Inc. Apparently the Bush Administration thinks the government can run a car company better than the longtime American auto executives who they charge with being unable to "come up with" a viable solution for success.    SW Florida man makes a statement about the economy by refusing to decorate There are signs of the season inside Tom Shoecraft's home: a real tree with homemade decorations from his five grandkids. He says it's their future he worries about most. Roger Simmermaker, Florida-based author of "How Americans Can Buy American" also recommends these sites: ChristmasbyKrebs.com, ByersChoice.com, ChristmasForest.com for Christmas wreaths and ornaments made in the USA. U.S. made artificial Christmas trees can be found at uschristmastree.com.    Toyota Forecasts Its First Operating Loss in 71 Years I guess Toyota isn't building cars people want to buy either.    Bush outlines auto bailout conditions His plan requires carmakers to show positive net value by March 31 and strive to reduce two-thirds of their debt. Detroit's Big Three also must get their wage structure with the United Auto Workers union competitive with foreign-owned carmakers who manufacture in the United States by the end of 2009.    Over 3,000 Unsafe Toys From China Seized In Florida A total of 2,160 plastic toy airplanes and 1,440 plastic toy rattles were taken into custody, because they either were found to be in violation of the small parts requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Commission and pose choking hazard to young children, or had high quantities of lead paint on them.    Can you buy All-American this Christmas? In his 2008 book, "How Americans Can Buy American: The Power of Consumer Patriotism," Roger Simmermaker reports a 2007 study showing that 33 percent of Americans say they would be willing to pay four times as much for American-made toys.    Mom, Apple Pie, and Hyundai? India imposes a 100 percent tariff on imported U.S. vehicles. China's tariff rate is 25 percent. Korea has long-run national anti-import campaigns that include targeting for tax audits anyone who buys a foreign car. Unless foreign economic protectionism is confronted immediately and at the highest levels of the U.S. government, the American auto industry cannot survive.    GM puts Volt engine plant on hold to conserve cash GM said it is putting the brakes on the construction of a factory in Flint, Mich., set to make 1.4-liter engines for the Chevrolet Cruze and the Chevy Volt plug-in electric car.    Another South-North fight over labor Ford and GM each obtain at least 80 percent of their parts from American factories. Toyota, Honda and Nissan get only 45 percent to 55 percent of their parts from the U.S., according to car industry observer Roger Simmermaker.    Senators carping about Big Three tax subsidies should look at plants in their backyard When Alabama gave Mercedes-Benz $253 million to build a factory there ($168,000 per job), that was considered a good thing. Honda was worth $158 million, and Hyundai's Southern site choice forced the state to cough up $234 million more. In 2003, Mercedes brought in Polish workers on questionable B-1 work visas to expand the factory because they could be paid far less than the local workforce.    Toyota Delays U.S. Plant Opening Indefinitely Well whaddya know! Toyota may not build the Prius in America after all. Could it be because sales of the Prius were down 48.3% in November? Are the people not buying Priuses the same ones that claim the Big Three don't build cars people want to buy?    Local CEO: Buy American And You Shall Be Rewarded! Mount Vernon Businessman Offers Employees Serious Cash Incentives To Buy U.S.-Made Cars And Trucks. $500 To Buy Or Lease 'Big 3' Car; $1,000 If It Gets 30 MPG    No Jobs, No Recovery The different wage scales in past history has required tariffs so as not to destroy the economies of all nations. Tariff is not a dirty word. It has been used to correct disparities in wages for thousands of years.    Port approves $3.5 million rise in tariffs The $3.5 million from tariffs will go toward increasing the port's reserve fund, which has about $19 million, LaRue said. Reserve funds are tapped to handle infrastructure demands, such as those that will be needed for projects such as the proposed La Quinta Trade Gateway Terminal, or in case of natural or man-made disasters, he added.    China says to take more steps to help industry The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said in a statement that industrial output growth continued to slow in November, from the 8.2 percent annual pace in October, and that some industries had faced 'serious difficulties' during that month.    Made in America is motto of American Aisle Only U.S.-manufactured products offered in Round Lake Beach store. One would think that the store must be owned by an American. Not so. The owner is an immigrant from India and his working partner is from Poland.    Made In America For many products, there are benefits to manufacturing them in the U.S.    Carolina Manufacturers Fear Fall of Chinese Trade Barriers Some hard-hit Carolina textile and apparel manufacturers are bracing for another blow to their industry when restrictions on Chinese imports expire at the end of the year.    Domestic Steel Producers Feeling Sore Over Soaring Imports from China Steel demand is slack and prices are low because sales of automobiles and appliances are down and residential construction is weak. So it?s not surprising that U.S. steel producers were dismayed when imports of Chinese finished steel products in October reached 713,000 net tons, an all-time monthly high.    Half of Americans say NAFTA has mainly negative effect on the economy In August, a slim majority of American respondents (53%) told Gallup that the effect of NAFTA on the U.S. economy has been "mainly negative," while 37% said the effect has been "mainly positive."    Toyota likely to report loss in second half Analysts say that with the yen soaring and global vehicle sales sliding more than expected, Toyota was well on its way to falling into the red in the second half.    GM, Chrysler Bankruptcies Would Hit Confidence, Deepen Slump A GM or Chrysler bankruptcy "would be the start of a cascade of failures," says Dennis Virag, president of Automotive Consulting Group in Ann Arbor, Michigan. "The economy will be in chaos within weeks."    Rasmussen survey finds shoppers wouldn't buy cars from bankrupt auto makers A new poll by Rasmussen Reports of consumer found that 51 percent said they would not buy a car from a manufacturer who is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. Thirty-one percent in surveyed said they would be "OK" buying a car from a bankrupt car maker. Another 18 percent weren't sure.    UAW Condemns GOP for Scuttling Bailout The Republican Senate proposal sought to cut UAW wages, bringing them in line -- or at "parity" -- with what workers earn at foreign-owned, non-unionized plants in the United States. "If we work for nothing, it wouldn't help them limp into January," United Auto Workers President Ronald A. Gettelfinger said.    Buying Big 3 brings bonus Some companies give cash deals to workers who buy a car from domestic automakers.    Hey, Senator, check out the 43 mpg Ford Fusion hybrid If I had my way, carmakers would create vehicles that run off of hot air. It's the kind of development that might make the U.S. Congress useful.    Big 3 rescue wins rivals' support The risk that one of the U.S. car companies could collapse deeply worries Asian and German manufacturers with U.S. factories. "We're joined at the hip with our Detroit brethren in manufacturing," said Irv Miller, group vice president and chief spokesman at Toyota Motor Corp.'s U.S. sales subsidiary. Whatever the U.S. government proposes to keep the U.S. automakers afloat, "we support it," Miller said.    Southern senators like Shelby, McConnell and DeMint backed $3 billion of government aid they received to locate foreign-owned plants in the United States Frank Larkin, a General Motors retiree from Newfane, recently called Shelby?s office to complain that the senator was looking out for his home state at the expense of the country. "It?s a protectionist deal, pure and simple," said Larkin, 70.    BAMW: The Big Three may perish through people's lack of knowledge Never before has their been such a large national debate over an issue so critical to the American economy accompanied by such large misconceptions of what the true facts really are as there has been over whether or not to extend a bridge loan to the Big Three.    A Bridge Detroit Needs The effects of a shutdown would multiply beyond the auto industry and would significantly postpone our nation's economic recovery. If Congress fails to act now, U.S. real gross domestic product could decline by more than 1 percent and the country would be likely to lose more than a million jobs.    Syracuse China: Made in China? Salina, NY -- In another blow to Central New York's slumping manufacturing sector, Libbey Inc. said Tuesday it will close its Syracuse China ceramic dinnerware factory in Salina in March, eliminating 275 local jobs. Syracuse China, which makes dinnerware for restaurants, hotels and institutional customers, is one of the region's oldest manufacturers. It was founded in 1871 in Geddes as the Onondaga Pottery Co.    Foreign tax policies put U.S. cars at disadvantage The $20,000 American car exported to Germany is saddled with the VAT (Value Added Tax) at the border -- which is imposed not just on the base price of the car, but the shipping and insurance costs as well -- and winds up costing $25,792 in Germany. This VAT disparity is reliably estimated to place an extra $290-billion burden on American manufactured goods and $85 billion on U.S. services -- or roughly half our yearly trade deficit.    GM retiree launches anti-Shelby Web site A retired engineer from General Motors Corp. has launched a new Web site, BoycottAlabamaNow.com, aimed at Republican Sen. Richard Shelby and the state he represents in Congress, Alabama.    The American Car Industry Never has the American car industry had a poorer press. No epithet these days seems too contemptuous in referring to the industry's managerial competence and no policy proposal too heartless in addressing the industry's high labor costs.    China irks US with computer security review rules The Chinese government is stirring trade tensions with Washington with a plan to require foreign computer security technology to be submitted for government approval, in a move that might require suppliers to disclose business secrets.    Pickens: Energy, fuel should be 'Made in America' Texas oil magnate T. Boone Pickens gave a rousing endorsement of American-made energy and fuels during the first Oklahoma Wind Energy Conference Tuesday, which drew more than 1,100 people. "We're going to go with everything American," he said, touting his Pickens Plan for energy independence.    Camry purchases by Indy draw fire "We're going to have layoffs before Christmas because sales of the Malibu have gone down," Bill Matthews, bargaining chairman of United Auto Workers Local 23, said Thursday. "The mayor overpaid for the Camrys and should have bought Malibus to support workers in Indianapolis, but he chose not to do it."    Mom, Apple Pie, and Hyundai? Consider quality. In 2007, Ford won 102 quality awards, including AutoPacific's Best in Class for three models and Germany's largest auto magazine's Auto 1 of Europe Award for its S-MAX. Forbes awarded the 2008 Chrysler 300 "the highest-quality car in the near-luxury category" over the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Lexus IS, and Mercedes-Benz C Class. Of the 15 global finalists for the 2008 Motor Trend Car of the Year Award, the Big Three manufactured nine, the Japanese four, and the Europeans two. The 2008 winner was GM's Cadillac CTS, which Motor Trend described as "proof that Detroit can still build a world-class sedan."    Obama, Who are You Wearing? Like many of his Cabinet picks, President-elect Barack Obama is remaining loyal to Chicago and wearing a locally-made Hartmarx tuxedo for the inauguration.    BAMW: American-made presents under an American-made tree With Christmas Day about a month away, many patriotic Americans are thinking about what kind of American-made gifts they can find to put under their Christmas trees. These same patriotic Americans may want to get an American-made, artificial Christmas tree to decorate and display as a gathering place for all those great and thoughtful gifts for friends and loved ones as well, but the problem is many consumers don't know where to go to get one.    Can Obama Keep New Jobs at Home? "The coming debate over "Buy American" restrictions in the fiscal stimulus is no sideshow. The financial crisis was caused, in large part, by U.S. consumers borrowing trillions of dollars from the rest of the world to buy imported cars, clothes, and gasoline, even as jobs slipped overseas. As long as the U.S. is running a big trade deficit and borrowing from abroad, a fundamental cause of the crisis remains."    Remember 'buy American'? Given a bailout, Detroit Three need to 'make American' What's an auto job worth? In Tennessee, where Volkswagen was offered incentives worth $577 million to build a 2,000-worker assembly plant near Chattanooga, each job is worth about $285,000. Translate that to the 235,000 workers employed by GM, Ford and Chrysler, and the total worth of those jobs nears $70 billion. So $25 billion in federal bridge loans would seem like a relative bargain to avert bankruptcy that auto experts say would wreck the industry.    Buy American and Save America Is it wise to continually ship your money out of the country, when you have a choice? How long can you do that before your country is owned by someone else?    After APEC, free trade orthodoxy questioned "People now look at the financial crisis and the lesson they learn is, 'See, globalization doesn't work,'" said Vinod Aggarwal, director of the APEC Study Center at the University of California-Berkeley.    Mexico's Calderon Warns Obama Against Renegotiating Trade Deal "Obama's signals have not been very positive as far as free trade is concerned," Luc Gerard, president of Bogota-based private equity fund Tribeca Partners, said in an interview. "There's definitely a concern."    Shrimpers cheer U.S. Customs But that doesn?t mean the SSA is pleased with the status quo. It?s estimated that upwards to $60 million worth of Chinese shrimp entered the U.S. market in 2005 that were falsely labeled as a product of Indonesia. Additionally, U.S. import data suggests that transshipment of Chinese shrimp through Malaysia continue unabated.    Fewer food inspections? That's foolish In brief, Chinese officials want U.S. inspectors to ease their oversight at ports of entry so China's manufacturers can get their products to market faster and without the stigma of being under watch.    China syndrome: Free tree was a bad deal This China syndrome is the result of free trade. It has caused the worst global economic meltdown since the Great Depression. Free trade was a bad deal to both American and Chinese workers who ultimately pay the price for the uncontrolled and inappropriate economic expansions which occurred in the U.S. and in China since 1997.    USW's Conway Says Final China Import Duties Needed on Line Pipe Conway made a personal plea, "Imagine what it would be like to see your job put at risk - not because of anything you did wrong, not because of factors beyond anyone's control, but simply because your government did nothing to prevent a flood of dumped and subsidized imports from slamming into this market. What kind of message does that send to hardworking Americans?"    BAMW: The present and potential future price of depending on foreign producers With the still recent rise of gas prices to $4.00 per gallon forever ingrained (hopefully) into the memory of American consumers, many of us have realized the real danger of dependence on foreign oil.    Chinese want to buy Big Three automakers With no big three making cars what's to stop Toyota and Honda from moving the plants to Mexico where costs are really low. It's only the threat of being shut out of the American market that keeps the Japanese building cars here. If we no longer have cars made in America by American companies we will have no choice but to buy their cars no matter where they are made.    BAMW: Support American-made products and spend less Never before has a presidential campaign addressed buying American so directly. In the 2008 presidential campaign, John McCain talked about creating jobs by selling American-made products into foreign markets, and Barack Obama started a "Buy American - Vote Obama" campaign in August.    Obama expected to bolster FDA oversight of imports "An Obama administration would swing the pendulum back more to protection of public health," said William Hubbard, a retired FDA official who held top posts. "This bodes well for greater regulation in the food safety area, on imports, and on drug safety."    Fair Trade Gains Ground in Congress Trade played a key role in congressional races, netting the "fair trade" movement 30 new seats in the House and Senate, according to a consumer advocacy group report.    China flexes military hardware muscle Some analysts believe China's ability to copy overseas technology, witnessed in countless industries over the past 20 years, could soon be powering its defence complex.    South Korea warns next U.S. president on trade deal South Korea on Wednesday urged the new U.S. president not to renegotiate a free-trade deal signed last year, saying the winner of the vote will find the pact beneficial to both sides. Democrat Barack Obama has said he opposes the free-trade deal with South Korea unless it is renegotiated to grant greater access to the Asian market for U.S. automakers.    Fears over Obama's protectionism in Thailand Pramon Suthivong, chairman of the Board of Trade, admitted that Obama's economic policies would be different from those of the Bush government to some extent. While Obama may not adopt a total protectionist policy on trade, he may raise some barriers against emerging markets to protect local industries, Pramon said.    China, Emerging Asia to Fight 'Protectionist' Obama Asia's leaders, led by an ascendant China, say they hope Barack Obama didn't really mean those campaign promises to protect American trade. And if he did, they are in better shape to object than ever before.    U.S. ordered to repay tariffs on Canadian wheat Are our amber waves of grain no longer a national symbol because we buy wheat from Canada because of free trade?    U.S. Light Duty Vehicle Sales 'Probably the Worst Sales Month in Post WWII Era' Chevrolet Malibu retail sales were up 129%; the Pontiac Vibe recorded a 6% total sales increase; and GM sold 44,500 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, and Chevrolet Avalanche full-size pickups in October, further solidifying its segment leadership.    Yamaha Rhino ATV Rollover Accidents Injure Hundreds, Yet No Recall Issued Yamaha Rhino All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) rollover accidents have injured - and in some cases killed - hundreds of people.    Factory closing slams Ga. Town It's not merely that Shaw Industries Group Inc.'s Plant 76 is the economic lifeblood of Trenton and Dade County, its 440 good-paying jobs make it the county's largest private employer.    Vise Grip plant closes, ending an era in DeWitt, Neb. The last Vise Grip locking pliers and Unibit drill bits to be manufactured here were boxed for shipping at 10 a.m. Thursday.    Detroit Has to be Saved The cost of bailing out Detroit, which will end up being one automaker not three shortly, is cheap compared to the enormous cost of bankruptcy.    Our debt to China is also to blame for financial crisis The big global engines of growth in the last seven years have been American consumers and Asian producers. They make stuff. We buy it. The trouble is, we borrow money from them to buy. And they've been too happy to lend. Next year, with all the rescue measures moving through the Treasury, the federal budget deficit may reach $1 trillion. This is a classic "guns and butter" budget, where we spend much more than we take in from taxes for two wars, Medicare, and on and on.    Democrats campaign to keep jobs at home Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch, counts 35 close Senate and House of Representatives races where Democrats are raising trade as an example of President George W. Bush's "failed economic policies."    High Point Market Fall 2008: 'Made in USA' selling well "Retailers tell us that a growing number of consumers are coming into their stores and asking for furniture that is made in the USA," said Becki Gould, director of marketing for Saloom. Thomasville Furniture plans to increase the use of its domestic wood plants after this market. The company will add 100 jobs at its 1 million-square-foot, 700-worker plant in Lenoir, N.C., by the end of the year to produce a new modular home entertainment wall program.    US cuts off trade benefits to Bolivia over drugs The suspension will raise U.S. tariffs on imports of Bolivian jewelry, textiles, wood and other products. Bolivia estimates that 30,000 workers would lose their jobs and more than US$300 million in exports would be priced out of the U.S. market.    'Made in America' forum sees China as competitor U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, D-Dimock Township, told the audience he authored the Made in America tax cut that would give tax benefits to companies that keep manufacturing jobs in the country. When America loses the ability to make products, Carney said, "We will be little better than a banana republic and the fact is we can't grow bananas."    China Is Buying American Too It's not just Warren Buffett who is buying beaten down US equities. China is buying American too. In an SEC filing yesterday, China's sovereign wealth fund revealed that it is upping its stake in the private equity company Blackstone Group to 12.5%.    Unfair trade hurts U.S. jobs Southwest Ohio has been a cradle of research and innovation for over a century and we intend to be leaders in the new economy that is developing everyday. We know that we can compete with any country in any industry if there is a level playing field. Unfortunately, American companies, many of them in southwest Ohio, have been hurt by the unfair trading practices of their foreign competitors. One such company is Appleton Papers, which has a mill in West Carrollton that employs nearly 500 people.    Trade deficit takes toll on Fla. Jobs Florida ranks among the top 10 states for jobs lost because of the growing U.S. trade deficit, a report released Thursday by the nonprofit Economic Policy Institute said. The state’s 233,800 jobs lost in 2007 were the seventh most in the nation, the report said. The report said the U.S. trade deficit resulted in the loss or displacement of 5.6 million jobs in 2007.    Illinois Losing Jobs to Unfair Trade Illinois lost 260,800 jobs in 20076 to rank sixth in the nation in the total number of jobs lost, according to a new report by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI). Even without considering the glut of foreign oil imports, the United States' massive trade deficit with all its trading partners resulted in the loss or displacement of 5.6 million jobs in 2007.    Report blames U.S. trade gap for 5.6 million lost jobs The U.S. trade deficit in goods other than oil cost American workers 5.6 million jobs last year, with Michigan and South Carolina leading the list of hardest-hit states, a report issued on Thursday said.    Notice of NAFTA Chapter Eleven Claim Submitted to Canadian Government on Behalf of U.S. Investor This action by the Government was taken discriminatorily, without legal authority and in violation of NAFTA and raises issues regarding the unfair treatment of American citizens investing in businesses in Canada.    Melamine Tainted Cookies Found in Alabama The Chinese import crisis continues.    BAMW: Choices for a China-free Christmas Don’t be fooled. The problem with Chinese imports is still ongoing even if it no longer commands front page news courtesy of the recent financial crisis.    Stop free trade binge, tax cuts, deregulation Globalization and outsourcing have imperiled our security. We had to await flat panel displays from Japan before invading Kuwait. We had to await Swiss crystals before invading Iraq. We can't produce planes unless we get the parts from India. We can't produce helicopters unless we get the parts from Turkey. This nonsense has got to stop. We must place tariffs or quotas on military imports and produce in this country the supplies necessary to our security, which will help put America back to work.    NTSB told of trade loophole for Mexico buses in U.S. Mexican-made buses are getting across the border and past U.S. safety requirements because they are involved in international trade and are not considered imports, a federal inquiry revealed on Wednesday.    PerioLase(R) MVP-7(TM) Dental Laser From Millennium Dental Technologies Proudly Made in USA "In a struggling economy and in hard and uncertain economic times, other laser companies are selling laser devices to American dentists that in whole or in substantial part are outsourced and manufactured in foreign countries and then imported to the U.S.," said Millennium Dental Technologies President Robert H. Gregg II, DDS, a practicing dentist and co-developer of LANAP. "Millennium is proud to say that our dental lasers are Made in the USA and continue to contribute to and support the U.S. economy and the American worker."    Virginia Physicist Charged With Selling Space Technology Secrets to China While the technological data that Shu allegedly sold wasn’t used in the rocket that launched the Shenzhou 7, the juxtaposition of events undercuts the message the Chinese government hoped to broadcast today: that the country has come into its own as a mature, space-faring nation, and that it needs no outside assistance to achieve its goals.    Microsoft Battles China Pirates With Office Price Cut It's no secret that Microsoft has been hit hard by software piracy in China. So in an effort to recoup at least a portion of what it sees as lost revenue, Microsoft has drastically cut the price of its Office suite. According to Reuters, Microsoft has reduced the price of its Office Office 2007 Home and Student Editions from 699 yuan ($102) to 199 yuan ($29), as part of a promotion that began on Monday and runs through Oct. 4, the end of China's National Week holiday.    US tries to calm fears about anti-piracy trade pact A proposed international agreement to reign in the huge worldwide trade in fake and pirated goods will not require customs officials to search laptop computers and music players for illegal downloads, a U.S. trade official said Monday. But digital rights advocates, who have filed a lawsuit to force the Bush administration to provide more details of the negotiations, said they remained concerned about the pact.    US autoworkers, Chrysler warn against Korea deal Last year, South Korea exported 668,000 autos to the United States, but imported only 6,500 U.S. vehicles    John McCain's claims of always buying American don't hold up McCain said recently in an interview with WXYZ-TV in Detroit: "I've bought American literally all my life, and I'm proud." Of the 13 cars McCain owns, only nine of them are considered American. The other four are a Toyota Prius (that he bragged about having), a Lexus, a 2005 Volkswagen convertible, and a 2001 Honda sedan. Shouldn’t John McCain have known that claiming to buy American when you really don't isn't a good thing, especially if you want to win Michigan.