The Great Trade War : A Day in the Life of a Real American
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Good morning, America. As alarms on clock radios made in Taiwan signal the start of another workday, a typical consumer might roll out of a bed made in Sweden and place his, or her, feet firmly on a flotaki rug from Greece while searching the night stand for a pair of glasses--frames made in Italy. And so begins a day, like any other, in which products manufactured abroad play key roles in our lives.
BATHROOM
Flipping the switch for the Italian light fixture, we find:
* Soap and razor blades made in Britain
* Faucets and tile from Italy
* A hairbrush and comb manufactured in China
* A hair dryer imported from Taiwan
GETTING DRESSED
And now the hard part--what to wear. Maybe a T-shirt from Israel, pants made in the Dominican Republic and shoes direct from Brazil? How about:
* A rugby shirt from New Zealand
* Athletic shoes or a scarf made in Indonesia
* A jacket from Taiwan
* A wallet made in Brazil
* A watch from Switzerland
KITCHEN
Now that our consumer is dressed, it’s time for breakfast. First, some Kenyan coffee goes into the electric pot from Germany and then is poured into a mug from Japan. Some toast pops up from the four-slice model made in Hong Kong, goes onto a plate from Portugal, along with a little English jam, and you’re set--almost:
* Bananas brought to market from Ecuador
* Coconut milk imported from Thailand
* Juice glasses and a food processor from France
* German-made knives, pots and pans
* A tablecloth from India
* Salt and pepper shakers from Portugal
* Place mats and napkins from China
AT THE OFFICE
Now it’s into the imported car--Korean, German or Japanese, take your pick. After tossing the briefcase from Thailand onto the desk, the American worker may find that these items will come in handy:
* An answering machine from China
* Pens made in Japan
* A pocket calculator made in Taiwan
* Scissors from Germany
DINNER
Home at last. And after brown-bagging it at work, it’s time for some real nourishment. But first, a glass of German beer while preparing the pizza:
* From Italy, some imported mozzarella and tomato sauce
* Anchovies from Morocco
* Australian wine
* Bottled water from France
LIVING ROOM
Unwinding in front of the Japanese TV after a long day, our consumer might want to pop a Korean-made videotape into that VCR, also from Japan. Want something that leaves a little more to the imagination? How about reading a book, printed in Hong Kong. But wait, there’s more:
* A lamp from Mexico
* A crystal vase from what was once Czechoslovakia
* Fabric from Thailand
THE EXTRAS
After all, our lives cannot always be divided into nice, neat categories:
* An iron from Singapore
* A sewing machine from Poland
* A Japanese camera
Source: Los Angeles Times
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