Publicola

Norinco is being sanctioned for the next two years by the U.S.

"The Bush administration has imposed stiff economic sanctions on one of China's largest state-run manufacturers for selling missile-related goods to Iran.
The two-year sanctions will, for the first time, bar any exports to the United States from a Chinese firm, in this case North China Industries Corp., known as Norinco, which manufactures an array of military and civilian products."

For those of you unfamiliar with Norinco, they're a company in China that among other things makes firearms. The semi-auto AK-47's are perhaps there most well known import into the U.S. but the also have made M-1A receivers as well as assorted shotguns, rifles & pistols.

This isn't the first time Norinco has been under scrutiny for acts that threaten the security of the U.S.

"Several Norinco employees were indicted in 1996 for being part of a covert effort uncovered by the U.S. Customs Service to smuggle 2,000 AK-47 assault rifles into Oakland, Calif., to arm urban street gangs."

I see to remember some connection to Clinton but I cannot remember the details. It seems like he had a business interest in the ship that was found to contain the fully automatic AK-47's intended for the black market, but my memory fails to recall any of the particulars.

Norinco also manufactures & exports other products.

"Norinco is China's third-largest manufacturer, and the sanctions could cost the company up to $100 million in lost business in the United States, through such retailers as Wal-Mart and Kmart.
Norinco makes some 4,000 products ranging from toys to short-range ballistic missiles, according to U.S. officials. Since it was formed in 1980, Norinco has had about $25 billion of import and export business.
As for businesses that will complain of the inconvenience of not being able to purchase inexpensive Norinco products, the official said, 'It's also inconvenient to have an Iranian missile come down on you."

That is a good point.
I have never been a fan of products made in China. China is a communist nation where the government in effect owns all the businesses. This in & of itself is not necessarily a reason for boycotting their goods, but China is also one of the most repressive governments around. So when you buy something made in China, you're supporting the government that used force against students protesting for a democratic government, which the Chinese government still has not accounted for. So for that & the Chinese governments other injustices against its own people, I've been trying to avoid buying products made in China. Not to mention they are, despite any diplomatic pretenses, still one of the most dangerous adversaries that the U.S. has.

The sanctions against Norinco don't bother me. I think they are appropriate considering the reasons for them. However I really feel we should cut off all economic relations with China until such time as they are truly governed by their own people, so naturally sanctions againt one company would not seem that drastic to me.
But for those of you who were looking into a Norinco firearm, I doubt there'd be a lack of availability unless everyone & his brother decided they had to have one. In any event if you had your eye on a particular Norinco firearm e-mail me or use the 'comment' box & I'll be more than happy to recommend several alternatives not made by company owned by a repressive government.