Korean Job Discussion Forums

[charlieDD]

In the Globe & Mail:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070723.COSTANFORD23/TPStory/specialComment/columnists

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"In Hyundai's world view, Canadians are little more than potential customers - wallets on legs. The company doesn't produce vehicles here, or buy vehicles from us. Its burgeoning imports have destroyed at least 10,000 good Canadian jobs in auto plants and suppliers."

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"Here's the scoreboard: New vehicles sold in Canada in the past five years by Hyundai and its affiliate Kia: 470,000; new vehicles produced in Canada in the past five years by the same companies: 0."

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" Hyundai would be by far the biggest winner under the proposed Canada-Korea free trade agreement (FTA). Automotive products (most of them Hyundais and Kias) are the most important Korean exports to Canada, which in sum outweigh our exports to Korea by almost two-to-one.

Trading with Korea is like playing soccer on a hill, with Canada's net at the bottom of the slope. Yet, International Trade Minister David Emerson has made it clear he wants to sign another FTA, any FTA, before he leaves office (likely at the next election, since he stands little chance of re-election in Vancouver Kingsway following his defection to the Tories). Korea, where they throw trade-union leaders in jail, is his best chance. The back-up plan, apparently, is Colombia, where union leaders simply get knocked off.

If I was the referee, I'd award a penalty shot against Korea for its extensive use of non-tariff barriers - the economic equivalent of using your hands in soccer. These strategies have kept Korea's automotive market 98-per cent controlled by Hyundai and other Korean producers, even as Korea's sales to Canada and other open-door markets grow every year. "

[crazy_arcade]

yup, trade wise they really want to be given everything without giving anything themselves. How quickly Hyundai forgets that it was only 10-15 years ago that Canada gave the company special no tarriff access (special trade measures for a poor developing country) to the Canadian automotive market so they could unload cheap and crappy Ponys and Excels at the lowest prices possible.

[Sincinnatislink]

Haha.

Canada is whining and being subverted.

[bignate]

What the author fails to mention is the reason why Korean cars are so popular in Canada....they are cheap, dependable, have an excellent warranty, are usually provided at 0% financing, and there is little hassel when dealing with the dealership over problems....they are a very customer freindly company...

The guy is an economist with the auto union......he is trying to protect his own wallet...

[On the other hand]

I wouldn't expect this article to have too much of an impact on Canadian public opinion. Stanford is a left-leaning economist, affiliated with the auto workers' union. The whole thrust of his argunent is that Canadian auto workers are getting hosed over by Hyundai. In my experience, most Canadians are not overly concerned about the welfare of workers in any sector of the economy besides their own.

If Canadians can accept the basic idea of free trade with the USA, a nation which has traditionally been the nationalists' bogeyman, then I wouldn't expect them to get up-in-arms about a trade deal with Korea.

[mack4289]

Yea Korea should really be allowing more imports of Canadian cars. What kind of Canadian cars are there......?

[The Perfect Cup of Coffee]

So how long after a Canuck-ROK FTA is signed can we expect to buy some decent cheese and pork? I guess it'll keep the Korean farmers busy protesting and throwing more crap around E-Mart and Homever.

[yesnoyesyesno]

i'm a Canadian and i sympathize with the author's frustrations but fair is fair, Hyundai is doing good, what does the author want, Hyundai to do a little less better? got to be realistic, hyudai's a business and Canada is just a single country in their business plans, and they do have factories all over the world, it just so happens that none of them are in Canada... why don't we try and bring some factories to canada or something then

[crazy_arcade]

[crazy_arcade]

[On the other hand]

[jvalmer]

[jay-shi]

[mack4289]

[Hollywoodaction]

Well, for starters they should stop trying to sell luxury automobiles only. Secondly, dealerships. If you can't get dealerships open, who's going to trust that they can get their car serviced (and the guy who talks about Korean cars having good warranties: not in Korea. Trust me, I've bought a new car here).