Boycotting low quality made in China imports A group of business leaders spurred on by Vu Tien Loc, President of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) has called for a boycott of low quality Chinese products as a way of protesting China’s bullying behaviour in the East Sea dispute. Boycotting low quality imported goods “I am not talking about a government-supported initiative, but a purely business-led boycott fuelled by patriotic sentiments,” Loc said adding “It is high time we encourage Vietnamese people to prioritise using Vietnamese goods.” Patriotism has been running at a fever pitch ever since China illegally deployed the Haiyang Shiyou-981 oil rig in Vietnam’s Exclusive Economic Zone and continental shelf.  The incident has served to heighten the awareness of all Vietnam citizens as to their social responsibility to use only products bearing the Made-in-Vietnam brand, Loc said. The sole attraction of Chinese goods is their cheap price.  It is not too difficult to highlight the inferiority of China-made products, whether we are talking about motorbikes, autos, industrial tools, consumer goods, clothing, electronic parts or the myriad of other low quality items they make that are flooding the market. Furthermore, there are many well documented incidences showing how low quality Chinese products are negatively affecting consumers’ health, which provides an impetus for accelerating the buy Vietnamese goods movement. It is important to educate consumers and the Vietnamese business community on the advantages and disadvantages of purchasing made in Vietnam products. If consumers fully understand the implications they will most certainly support the “Vietnamese people prioritise using Vietnamese goods” campaign, Loc said. Nguyen Thien Nhan, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, and head of the campaign’s steering board in turn said successfully boycotting second-rate imported products from China will most likely improve the demand by consumers for locally made goods. A boycott would also help to further accelerate the dissemination of information about the disadvantages and health risks that substandard imported China-made goods pose. Many products without brand names and food of unknown origins are still bought by local people, because they are not cognizant of the dangers. We need to get the message out about the harmful health effects, Nhan stressed. Businesses hold key role Nguyen Quoc Cuong, Chairman of the Vietnam Farmers’ Association, says businesses play the key role in making the “Vietnamese people prioritise using Vietnamese goods” slogan a reality. First and foremost the business community needs to take the vanguard and ensure they are producing quality products worthy of the Made-in-Vietnam brand.   Second, they must understand that many consumers unwittingly place too much emphasis on the price to their detriment and this mindset needs to be changed through effective advertising and marketing campaigns. The time is right for a business-led boycott to effectively educate consumers on the importance of purchasing only high-quality “Made in Vietnam” goods and deal with the negative ramifications of shoddy and fake Chinese goods overrunning the market. VOV