Chinese media: fair and balanced?

By: Bob Ulrich

China is a communist country, with one ruling party. At the same time, it seems to be embracing capitalism to the best of its manufacturing ability.

You would think these two philosophies would be incompatible, but they are not, and tire buyers in the United States have been the beneficiaries for years. So have tire dealers.

The excessive tariffs placed on Chinese consumer tire imports have, at least temporarily, put an end to that. Perhaps when the tariffs expire on Sept. 26, 2012, prices will go down, but that’s another discussion for another time.

During a recent visit to Shanghai, China (see my story on page 38), I studied China’s English language newspapers to see if they could help explain this seeming contradiction. On the surface, the coverage appeared well-rounded.

Bad news seemed almost as prevalent as good news.

“Tough times ahead for China steel companies,” read a headline in the “China Daily.” Rising raw material prices and a decrease in vehicle and appliance sales were cited as conflicting problems. As a result, Chinese steel manufacturers said they may cut production.

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Related Topics: Bob Ulrich, China, Editorial

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