Can the Maytag repairman learn Chinese?

The idea of Chinese firms showing interest in business propositions here in Canada is not a particularly new thing, the last little while the business section of many a Canadian newspaper has been filled with stories of possible Chinese acquisitions. Even poor little Podunk's moribund pulp and paper mill has attracted the interested of the People's Liberation Investment Bankers, much to the joy of the locals, though the sale of Chinese-English Dictionaries is not at rush levels yet!

Indeed while we had our heads turned to matters Gomery, Harper and Martin the Chinese have been busy putting together a wish list of Canadian resource sector companies for investment. Not a bad thing in this era of freer trade and globalization, but surely someone must start to notice that perhaps we're trading one group of owners (American) for another (Chinese), yet still won't own our own products nor have a head office to call our own. None the less, it is a fact of life that at this point in time, investment makes the world go round now and whether it's dollar or yuan I guess we're open for business. Though you have to wonder how long the US will feel "comfortable" with the level of Chinese interest in the Canadian oil patch!

But if things are interesting with Chinese designs on the Great White North, lets see them digest this down Washington, DC way. It seems that China is taking an interest in that American icon Maytag. Long one of those brands associated with Flag, motherhood and apple pie the Maytag repairman may soon have to head for a Berlitz course.

While Canadians are not quite as concerned as Americans over the increasing clout of China, the nervousness over the looming presence of the over Billion person empire has begun to increase in the US. As China builds it's future linked to an American dollar, while sending over pretty well most of the goods Americans like to buy. But to actually take over an American legend complete with Fridges, vacuums, dryers and washers will certainly speed up calls for protectionism and add to an already edgy America.

Many see a showdown in the next ten years between the US and China over trade, as the heavily indebted America tackles the flexing muscles of the emerging China. It would be interesting to see if the Maytag Repairman is the Paul Revere of a new revolution.