“China practices mercantilist policies, to the detriment of her own people and our manufacturers.”
Why is it to the detriment of her own people?
China standard of living has increased many folds since it started exporting manufactured goods. It used to be a basket case, now it’s the second most powerful country and growing.
And its mercantilism is very different than what was practiced in the 19th century. Back then countries like Britain and France would drain their colonies of their natural resources (including gold) and send them manufactured goods.
Today China sends us manufactured goods in exchange for iou’s in the form of treasuries. Quite a deal for us if you ask me.
They basically fund our yearly deficits which pay for our welfare programs.
So Chinese people work so ours don’t have to.
Because they are paid less than the value of their labor, and to much of the added value goes to those who are connected, including the CCP bureaucrats and connected capitalists. With free trade, rather than a government monopoly they would receive higher wages.