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Jake'S View | This Christmas, Americans would do well to remember who they owe their gifts and prosperity to

Few Americans get the interconnections of the global economy. They are told by their president and his shills to bite the hands that give them all their gifts and prosperity.

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Stock photo of a family with three children celebrating Christmas at home. Photo: Alamy

There is consensus in Washington that China’s economic policy is unfair and there are violations of many WTO and bilateral commitments. In the coming months we are going to see a lot of rhetoric translate into actions that try to push China to address concerns of the US in economic policies.

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Scott Kennedy, Centre for Strategic and International Studies

SCMP, December 19

Is it true that China has broken the rules of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and many bilateral commitments?

It would not surprise me. The way things are seen in Beijing, China must sign up for these international trade arrangements or see the access of its export industries to many world markets restricted, or even denied.

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But Beijing reads “American”, where others see the word “international”, and is rightly suspicious of American imperialism. It has the example of much of Latin America to think of, and it will not be made another coffee, sugar, copper or banana republic enslaved to US interests. One Batista Cuba was enough.

An employee makes plastic Christmas trees at the Zhongsheng Christmas Crafts factory in Yiwu on September 13, 2012. Factories in the Zhejiang provincial city are among the world’s largest suppliers of toys and all kinds of festive decorations, including Christmas gifts for America. Photo: REUTERS
An employee makes plastic Christmas trees at the Zhongsheng Christmas Crafts factory in Yiwu on September 13, 2012. Factories in the Zhejiang provincial city are among the world’s largest suppliers of toys and all kinds of festive decorations, including Christmas gifts for America. Photo: REUTERS
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