Andrew Liveris: Subsidies? Thanks! Uh, er, no!

Alex Tullo is continuing to cover Andrew Liveris' publicity blitz in favor of competitive advantages for multinational corporations an "advanced manufacturing policy" on CNN (Tullo's writing is not italicized, while Liveris' statement is italicized, emphasis CJ's):

As he’s done in the past, the Dow CEO called for a national manufacturing strategy.

Liveris: I do think your notion of a modern day industrial policy, a national, advanced manufacturing policy to spur investments, not subsidies, not incentives, just to make it easier and more understandable would be a great start.

Singapore is the classic example of that, Lee Kuan Yew’s Singapore. They are already working on the next industries, in their case, biotech. Germany gets it. Germany, a high wage cost country, understands that I have got figure out what’s going to follow, when the Chinese finally copy my advanced engineering equipment, which they will do.

The “not subsidies, not incentives” part I found interesting. In his book, he had much to say about incentives and how the U.S. should offer incentives similar to the lush subsidies for industry offered in Asian countries.  “The problem is that if we refuse to offer these kinds of incentive packages while other countries are aggressively outdoing one another, we put America at a clear competitive disadvantage,” he wrote.

He now seems to be downplaying this view. I do wonder if this interview was conducted after the Solyndra story broke. 

I agree with Tullo. His comments in the New York Times last week belie his comment ("Overseas,” Mr. Liveris said, “I get tax incentives, and I get incentives to go to certain locations where they offer us utilities, infrastructure and land. I get access to human capital. I get all sorts of support to help train that human capital.”). Perhaps the reporter left out the part where Liveris says, "Yeah, and we don't want that stuff in the ol' USA!"

What does Liveris' "advanced manufacturing policy" mean? Let's take his 2010 article in USA Today -- he calls for the following:

• Infrastructure improvements and investment
• More R&D spending by industry and government
• Better STEM education and workforce training
• "A 'pro-trade' policy" (support for Doha, etc.)
• An alternative energy strategy
• Regulatory reform, "especially as concerns the environment."
• Reducing corporate taxes, increasing R&D tax credits
• "Reform in civil justice", "end lawsuit abuse"

Look -- I believe in a lot of this. But to say items 2, 4, 6, 7 and 8 wouldn't be a huge gift to his company (and huge multinationals in particular) is really, really stretching it. Liveris should just simply admit that to keep his manufacturing in the United States, he wants his company to be paid for it.