Dear Jim and All,
on 2002/05/01 08.01, James Frysinger at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
The final passage of your letter to ASME caught my eye as I had only
finished reading this morning's copy of the Melbourne paper, 'The Age'.
<snip>
> If I were a foreign
> contractor, one look at this magazine would give me severe reservations about
> using American mechanical engineering companies. I feel that this is an issue
> that is incredibly important to the ASME for the sake of presenting a
> professional appearance.
The relevant parts from 'The Age' read:
'Trade Minister Mark Vaille yesterday took a fresh approach in the debate
about United States farm subsidies: let the Americans keep on with the
process because its making their agricultural industries increasingly
uncompetitive.'
Direct quotes from the Minister for Trade included:
"That was to let the Americans keep subsidising inefficient industries that
are producing products that we've already proven we can compete against and
sell ahead of," he said.
"So let them keep spending money. That in turn, will stop American producers
looking for new technology and improving the way they produce.
'There is an upside as well as a downside in all this. Our producers have
grasped the nettle in terms of new techniques and new crops and we're
winning in the marketplace."
***
I know that Australia is a long way from the USA and that farming is a long
way from mechanical engineering, but I believe the views of the Australian
government's Minister for Trade are very possibly shared by many others
around the world � at the expense of industry in the USA.
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin
CAMS - Certified Advanced Metrication Specialist
- United States Metric Association
ASM - Accredited Speaking Member
- National Speakers Association of Australia
Member, International Federation for Professional Speakers
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