Comments on: Column: On the Road

By: FRIDGEMAN

FRIDGEMAN — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 22:54:12 +0000

I agree that is likely to be what he means. I’m trying to understand why that makes sense. It is not a real workable definition, and I still submit that while “Buy American” is easy to say, it really doesn’t have meaning.

In a situation where it is pretty crystal clear, I buy local produce at every possible opportunity and eschew items which been shipped from Brazil, New Zealand, and all over the place. (Assuming we neglect the issue of whether the “American” produce has been harvested by legal farm workers!)

By: jcp2

jcp2 — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:32:43 +0000

The Buy American Act applies only to supplies and construction materials. Canned grapefruit sections (and all the other items on the exclusion list) are excluded because the domestic supply of such is less than 50% of the combined U.S. government and nongovernmental demand. I imagine that the cannery is offshore, as U.S. processed grapefruit production is largely frozen juice concentrate. There have been some U.S. Government Department of Fish and Wildlife owned Priuses spotted out west.

Regardless, when it comes to cars and Michigan, buy American means buy traditional Ford, Chrysler, or GM nameplates sold in the United States. Foreign brands with an ownership interest by these companies don’t count (Volvo, Saab). Cars built by UAW labor don’t necessarily count (Toyota Matrix, Mazda 6). Cars with American nameplates not available in America don’t count (Chevrolet Forester in India, Subaru Forester here; Dodge Attitude in Mexico, Hyundai Accent here). Cars built by CAW workers in Canada count, as they are UAW cousins. Cars built by non-UAW labor may or may not count, depending on whether you support the UAW more than the companies (Aveo, Fusion). At least that’s what I think Ed means.

By: FRIDGEMAN

FRIDGEMAN — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:16:34 +0000

Maybe I shouldn’t bother once again trying to elevate the discussion here, but as evidence that this is not a simple issue, you can read how the US government attempts to define a “domestic product” for the purposes of the Buy American act, which requires US government agencies to preferentially purchase “domestic” products. [Link]

With patience (and a magnifying glass), you can find some fairly interesting items in this document.

In Section 25.001(c), it says “… The Buy American Act uses a two-part test to define a “domestic end product” (manufacture in the United States and a formula based on cost of domestic components). Under the trade agreements, the test to determine country of origin is “substantial transformation” (i.e., transforming an article into a new and different article of commerce, with a name, character, or use distinct from the original article). ”

I would imagine that with this test, a Nissan manufactured in Alabama by American workers from mostly American parts would be considered a domestic product.

The “exclusions” list towards the bottom is really quite intriguing. For example, why are canned grapefruit sections excluded?!?

By: jcp2

jcp2 — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 20:18:38 +0000

Inconceivable!

By: Rod Johnson

Rod Johnson — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 18:57:25 +0000

I think Ed only thinks he knows what he means.

By: jcp2

jcp2 — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 14:11:04 +0000

I think Ed means buy from car companies that use UAW labor.

By: Ed Fenton

Ed Fenton — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 10:53:57 +0000

If he dosn’t know the answer to all those questions then he needs to take another look at his patriotic life and maybe do something about it.

By: Rod Johnson

Rod Johnson — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 20:48:14 +0000

I notice you didn’t answer his questions, Ed. Can you?

By: Ed Fenton

Ed Fenton — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 10:50:39 +0000

The point is Buy American, Cant you understand! or should you move to china?

By: FRIDGEMAN

FRIDGEMAN — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 01:21:02 +0000

Ed,

That’s easy to say, but what do you really mean?

Do you mean buy a car which is assembled by American workers? Do you mean a car which is made entirely from US parts? Are you including Canada as part of the US?

I generally enjoy the informed debates in the Chronicle comments; I’d like to understand the point you’re trying to make.