[ek_hornbeck]

Because US companies are turning into shell companies that just hold foreign manufacturing firms, until that technology get copied by foreign competitors and they go out of business.

And those shell companies want to have their cake and eat it too: they want their production to take place in Third World Countries, and yet they also want US patent laws to protect them in those foreign countries.

[DannyTN]

"And those shell companies want to have their cake and eat it too: they want their production to take place in Third World Countries, and yet they also want US patent laws to protect them in those foreign countries."

True, but they know their products will soon be copied. But that's not the choice they are facing. Either they off-shore their manufacturing or they are run out of business by competitors who do.

Given the rules set up by the U.S. government, off-shoring is the only winning play. It's only a short-term win, but there is no long-term win.

The government needs to restore the import tariffs. Lowering them was a major mistake.

[Cyber Liberty]

BS. What do you think we make, tinkertoys and piston rods? Stuff that can easily be transferred offshore?

Back-end packaging, sure. Been doing that since the ‘70’s. Front end wafer fab? No, US. Some companies have facilities in Europe, but the third world is just not a place where you can build advanced wafer technology.