# What cheap USA-made crap gets sold in China? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 26, 2006, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cheap-usa-made-crap-gets-sold-in-china/358281 "2006-05-26T03:28:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2006, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cheap-usa-made-crap-gets-sold-in-china/358281/1 "2006-05-26T03:28:23Z")
OK, we all know that tons of el cheapo Chinese goods gets sold in dollar stores throughout the US. But what cheap US goods get sold in markets of ill repute in good old China? Alberto V05 shampoo spilling out into the street? Alpo stacked to the ceiling? Rubbing alcohol? I’m curious–fill me in. (My experience in Japan, not an exporter of cheap goods but oh well, is that somone will import just about any food product and try to sell it there. I’m curious if there are any cheap products that make it into China. Heh.) ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2006, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cheap-usa-made-crap-gets-sold-in-china/358281/2 "2006-05-26T04:21:52Z")
chicken feet. seriously. a lot of food products. everything else gets made in china. plenty of luxury goods are imported but on the cheap side virtually nothing. alberto v05 et al are produced in china or would be way too expensive to compete with local goods. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2006, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cheap-usa-made-crap-gets-sold-in-china/358281/3 "2006-05-26T05:42:25Z")
I’ve seen more Buicks on the road here in Shanghai than I would otherwise have expected… does that count? ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2006, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cheap-usa-made-crap-gets-sold-in-china/358281/4 "2006-05-26T05:58:16Z")
Looking at China Business Review: [http://www.chinabusinessreview.com/public/0407/gresser.html](http://www.chinabusinessreview.com/public/0407/gresser.html) > [@](#): > > Table 4: US Exports to Mainland China 1999-2003 > > Product 1999 Exports 2003 Exports Growth > > All goods $13.1 billion $28.4 billion 117% > > Refined copper $1.0 million $157.0 million 10,000%+ > Oranges $0.1 million $16.0 million 10,000%+ > Spectacles $0.2 million $1.1 million 540% > Steel $73.0 million $452.0 million 520% > Semiconductors $0.7 billion $2.4 billion 340% > Textile yarn & fabric $79.0 million $250.0 million 220% > Auto parts $151.0 million $325.0 million 115% > Fish $90.0 million $175.0 million 94% > Airplanes $2.1 billion $2.2 billion 4% > Wheat, rice & corn $49.0 million $36.0 million -27% > Source: PPI I guess oranges and the grains could count as “cheap” Spectacles? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2006, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cheap-usa-made-crap-gets-sold-in-china/358281/5 "2006-05-26T13:11:55Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Spectacles? 😕 It couldn’t be glasses, could it? Wouldn’t they be assembled in China like in the US, not preproduced?? Unless they mean the Barnum & Bailey China Tour ---
**Author:** ![Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Throatwarbler_Mangrove)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2006, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cheap-usa-made-crap-gets-sold-in-china/358281/6 "2006-05-26T13:18:12Z")
I believe most foreign branded cars in China, like the Buick Regal, BMW X5, VW Passat and such, are in fact produced with joint venture partners in China. There are very few actual import cars in China. As an aside, it is sort of interesting to watch GM reinvent itself and revamp its’ brand image in China, an otherwise pristine market. Cars like the Buick Regal, which would hardly turn any heads here in NA, are considered fairly classy and “cool” vehicles in China. I’ve never owned a Buick, I have no idea whether they are actually nice cars or not, the ones in China I saw certainly aren’t. There is not a “Buicks are what my parents bought” negative marketing image attached to them. GM profits in China are currently through the roof and their market share has been doubling every year for the last few years. I don’t know about “el Cheapo”, I am fairly certain some organ meats that have no market in NA, like beef tripe, are shipped for sale in China. Also, Ginseng, which I understand does not have a huge market in NA either. > [@](#): > > Spectacles? Crappy dubbed-over American TV shows. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2006, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cheap-usa-made-crap-gets-sold-in-china/358281/7 "2006-05-26T14:39:52Z")
higher manufacturing costs + SOX + punative VAT = slim chance ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2006, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cheap-usa-made-crap-gets-sold-in-china/358281/8 "2006-05-26T14:55:59Z")
[Ford’s sales will hit 200,000 vehicles this year on the Chinese mainland](http://www.china.org.cn/english/BAT/87529.htm). ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2006, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cheap-usa-made-crap-gets-sold-in-china/358281/9 "2006-05-26T15:46:08Z")
Refined copper $1.0 million $157.0 million 10,000%+ Oranges $0.1 million $16.0 million 10,000%+ Our sales are up 300%! They’ve TRIPLED! Last year, we sold one box of oranges. This year, we sold three boxes. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2006, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cheap-usa-made-crap-gets-sold-in-china/358281/10 "2006-05-26T18:09:32Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > Refined copper $1.0 million $157.0 million 10,000%+ > Oranges $0.1 million $16.0 million 10,000%+ > > Our sales are up 300%! They’ve TRIPLED! Last year, we sold one box of oranges. This year, we sold three boxes. Wait, do Chinese Chinese restaurants give out oranges at the end of the meal too? ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2006, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cheap-usa-made-crap-gets-sold-in-china/358281/11 "2006-05-26T18:25:58Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Wait, do Chinese Chinese restaurants give out oranges at the end of the meal too? Could it be that Orange Chicken is really popular? :dubious: Many chinese dishes include orange: _Spicy Orange Beef Broccoli with Mandarin Oranges Chicken Oriental Mandarin Chicken Roll-Ups Sweet and Sour Chicken Asian-Style Pork Chop Bake_ ---
**Author:** ![Tabby\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tabby\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabby_Cat)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2006, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cheap-usa-made-crap-gets-sold-in-china/358281/12 "2006-05-26T18:30:02Z")
I think it’s a rather safe bet that people in China don’t actually eat “Asian-Style Pork Chop Bake”. And "Broccoli with Mandarin Oranges "?! That sounds… disgusting to me, and I’m Chinese. =P ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2006, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cheap-usa-made-crap-gets-sold-in-china/358281/13 "2006-05-26T18:40:29Z")
Yep, I was dubious, I was looking at “Chinese” dishes, but those are the ones popular in America. Are oranges becoming popular in China as just fruit? ---
**Author:** ![Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Throatwarbler_Mangrove)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2006, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cheap-usa-made-crap-gets-sold-in-china/358281/14 "2006-05-26T19:52:15Z")
I have eaten countless times in Chinese resturants in North America and China. I have never recieved an orange during any part of the meal. I don’t think I have ever had a cooked dish in China that involved oranges. Foreign fruit is a luxury in the third world, as Chinese become richer, more luxurious foreign fruit is demanded. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2006, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cheap-usa-made-crap-gets-sold-in-china/358281/15 "2006-05-27T00:31:46Z")
very common in china to get a fruit plate at the end of the meal. It can have oranges and usually watermelon, apple, sweet melons, etc. An abomination to put the orange in the dish like mandarin chicken or something Almost all the cars on the road in China, and all the “foreign” products you see are actually produced in China. some of the auto parts are imported but a drop in the bucket compared to the billions of dollars of auto parts exported from China