[robertpaulsen]

"Wouldn't the result me that US manufacturing would become more competitive? Therefore more US manufactured goods sold and more US companies started?"

That would be the result. We can tax imports and get the same result without an NRST.

Either way the consumer loses, but you get your result.

[Conservative Goddess]

"...We can tax imports and get the same result without an NRST...."

We are a member of the World Trade Organization. Any attempt to tax imports alone, without the authorization of the WTO, will result in crippling retaliatory tariffs being imposed on exported US goods.

Please Google: "GATT" "Uruguay Round" and "World Trade Organization" For kicks, you may also want to investigate the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development...they would also have something to say about unilateral imposition of import tarriffs. We've been a member of the OECD since 1973, if memory serves....WTO since it's inception in 1995. Also google "Smoot-Hartley Tariff Act" for a history of tariffs vis a vis internal taxation.

[CSM]

"That would be the result. We can tax imports and get the same result without an NRST.

Either way the consumer loses, but you get your result."

Except by only adding a tarrif, you are talking about additional taxes vs. the NRST which is revenue nuetral. Under the current system the taxes are hidden, under the NRST the taxes are in plain view and the base is larger.