China and Currency

Customs Brokers License - do I need one? and other questions. thanks

Hi John,
I took your class last summer. I'm interested in importing and exporting (US
and China). I still haven't taken any real action towards my dream. Most of it
is just researching and accumulating ideas. I understand that the
freighforwarding companies will usually take care of customs-related papers and
docs etc...I'm actually interested in being licensed as a customs broker just
so that I can get a better understanding of the whole processs. Do you think
it's necessary at all?

Also, if I want to test selling a small batch of, say, apparel here to
boutiques here or online, can't I just buy a batch in China and ship it via the
post office. Does that save me a lot of hassle? I know my question may sound
silly. I guess I just want to "play" with my biz idea on a very small
scale/batch without having to go through every step in the regular importing
process. Basically I'm imagining a scenario where I can buy cheap in China or
whereever (cash transaction), then sell here at a higher price that can cover
the shipment cost (post office???), and through which I gain some really
experience. I'm too afraid of lauching everything at the first try.

Thank you so much for your valuable advice and comments in advance!
Lily


--- John Spiers wrote:

> The phrase has an interesting history, actually coming out of the Truman
> administration, just
> that the hapless Earl butz was caught on tape saying it, doing for Nixon what
> Sec. of the
> Interior James Watt did for Reagan, always managing to give the game away.
>
> Anyway, big business and big government go hand in hand, what with the
> advantages and
> efficiencies imagined in collectivization and harmonization. When it comes
> to collectivist,
> socialist impulses, the democrats simply do not have the chutzpah of the
> republicans.
>
> John
> On Fri, 24 Mar 2006 13:24:41 -0800 (PST), M A Granich
> wrote :
>
> > What is the motive behind "get big or get out"? You
> > said it was from the Nixon administration. What were
> > they or are they attempting to do? Monopolize the ag
> > markets?
> >
> > Anthony
> > --- spiersegroups wrote:
> >
> > > GRP,
> > >
> > > Let me be clear, I am against either and both items
> > > from being exported in the
> > > measure they are subsidized or otherwise protected.
> > >
> > > I have no problem with a farmer in Ghana getting
> > > subsidized rice cheap from usa,
> > > allowing his fields to go fallow, and turning a
> > > profit by selling USA rice to Ghanains,
> > > until the USA taxpayers cry "enough" and we stop.
> > > Then the same Ghanain farmer
> > > resumes selling what he grows. This is non-violent
> > > self-defense.
> > >
> > > But this is not what happens. The US Government
> > > policy of "get big or get out"
> > > extends overseas as well. The Ghanaians who go to
> > > Harvard and receive Harvard
> > > MBA's return to Ghana (or whatever country) and
> > > enter leading buisiness or
> > > government ministries. The set up a system that
> > > allows them to buy from and work
> > > with the USA Harvard MBA's employed at Archer
> > > Daniels Midlands the "supermarket to
> > > the world." and in USA government ministries. The
> > > Ghanaian farmer cannot get a
> > > license to import rice. He is taxed into oblivion
> > > to assure he cannot compete with usa
> > > rice, which is untaxed. These Harvard MBA's charge
> > > a super premium to effect
> > > polcies and actions that break the USA small farmer
> > > and the Ghanaian small farmer.
> > > The USA small farmer gets some welfare. The
> > > Ghanaian farmer gets nothing. With
> > > kids going hungry, many farmers choose the armed
> > > response. (of course you can
> > > substitute any number of exported items, countries,
> > > and schools, but the general
> > > system is essentially the same).
> > >
> > > So we agree, all subsidize cause direct harm, all
> > > restrictions are violent. I am against
> > > it.
> > >
> > > John
> > > --- In spiers@yahoogroups.com, grmail@... wrote:
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Exports can be good or bad too... do we export
> > > things we made or raw
> > > > > materials... of the
> > > > > things we made, are the consumer goods or are
> > > they machinery and
> > > > > equipment? Exporting
> > > > > shoes is good, excporting a shoe-making machine
> > > is bad becuase its value,
> > > > > the ability to
> > > > > make shoes, is exported. Exporting subsidized
> > > goods is very bad indeed.
> > > > > Subsidies,
> > > > > currency and interest rate manipulation generate
> > > the bad kind of exports.
> > > > >
> > > > > John
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > John,
> > > > I kind of disgree with this statement, Its like
> > > saying; its bad to sale
> > > > John Deere tractor and harvestor to a farmer in
> > > Africa, but its ok to sale
> > > > ship loads of rice and wheat to that farmer from
> > > USA. This defeats the
> > > > purpose of famous saying "Don't give begger a
> > > ready made food, show him
> > > > how to grow food for his long term sustainabilty,
> > > so he would stop
> > > > begging, stealing and all that he does to survive"
> > > >
> > > > grp
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > Compete on Design!
> >
> > www.johnspiers.com

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