China Imposes a Steep Tariff on U.S. Poultry

A year ago President Obama imposed steep tariffs on tires from china. Two days following those tariffs the Chinese commerce ministry began an investigation into whether or not the United States was attempting to harm China's poultry industry by exporting chicken parts for a lower cost. As a result of these investigations China further imposed steep tarrifs of its own on U.S. poultry imports. The increase may reportedly reach 105.4%. These actions reflect that China is not affraid to flex its economic muscle. China as a whole poses as a large threat in the balance of powers and its economic power seems to be increasing. A similar situation is also going on between China and Japan, however, rather than chicken parts they are involved in rare earth minerals. Eswar S. Prasad, an economics professor at Cornell, said it best, “China’s rising assertiveness on the international economic stage reflects its growing economic might and the self-confidence of its leadership, but is tempered by the realization that it faces many challenges in terms of its own development." Needless to say, the more economic confidence that China gains, the more of a global power threat it mat pose.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/27/business/global/27yuan.html?ref=world

Andrew Gates