Death by China

This economic horror story builds from an interesting premise: namely, that allowing China into the World Trade Organization in 2001 was akin to letting foxes into America's manufacturing henhouse. Filmmaker Peter Navarro, a business professor and regular contributor to CNN and CNBC, methodically lays out the subsequent consequences: scores of American businesses sent their manufacturing operations to China, and with them millions of jobs (in some cases, American workers were asked to show their Chinese counterparts how to use machines that were literally unbolted from U.S. factory floors and sent overseas). In the process, hundreds of other companies whose services had been tied to these newly decimated industries also disappeared. Not only did this result in massive unemployment and a hollowed-out middle class, but young people getting out of school now have fewer options to start their adult lives. But the bigger picture, Navarro tells us, is even bleaker: China takes advantage of unrestricted importing to the U.S., resulting in a tremendous trade imbalance, a problem that is further complicated by Chinese currency manipulation, which subsidizes cheap manufacturing and exporting of products to America. In addition, Chinese laborers are abused and poorly paid, China's air and water quality is a nightmare (given lax environmental legislation), and intellectual property theft is rampant. Narrated by Martin Sheen, Death by China asks why America fought for China's inclusion in the WTO, while also examining our $3 billion debt to that nation. DVD extras include a director's audio commentary, the short film “Death by Chinese Junk,” and a music video. A powerful, thought-provoking documentary, this is highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (T. Keogh)