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East is East and West is West and never the twain shall meet ... except in Asia.
U.S. manufacturers are shopping the Asian marketplace as outsourcing parts and materials become the norm .
One San Diego company is reaping the benefits of global sourcing, providing local and international companies a China connection.
"Manufacturers are all under the gun to drive down costs," said Dick Judy, president and under of Barich Inc. in Sorrento Valley. "They're being forced down by their customers. It's getting very competitive out there.
"The United States is focusing on sophisticated products, so the United States, because of costs, has drifted away from the lower-tech assembly and distribution, which has opened it up for countries like China."
Barich, an international trading company, buys offshore products and materials and sells them to original equipment manufacturers.
The firm also handles transportation and logistics, provides warehousing and inventory control, overseas quality control, and maintains international trade relationships for its clients.
Barich works with more than 20 Chinese associations and companies. The firm also keeps close ties with major government authorized trading companies such as The China National Machinery & Equipment Import and Export Corp.
Barich's clients include manufacturers of ball bearings, electric gasoline motors, textile products, molded rubber and plastic components, and electrical assemblies in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Before launching Barich in 1985, Judy worked as a marketing manager for General Dynamics Service Co., and traveled extensively throughout Asia.
He was convinced China had -something to offer, he said.
"China seems to excel in consumer products and low-tech products even though they have a strong desire to produce, one day, high-tech products," Judy said.
"China is probably technologically where Japan was 20 to 25 years ago. And look where Japan is now -- they are probably the most smooth operators in the world that create high-tech consumer products."
China's quest for technological maturity comes as it faces the largest monthly trade deficit with the United States than any other country. According to the U.S. Commerce Department, the August trade gap with China rose by 9.6 percent to $5.2 billion.
The bulk of China's exports to...