[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

At this point, I'd settle for control of intellectual property, patent, and trademark rights. If the US population wants to continue to purchase goods from China, so be it. But let's make sure that companies in the USA are not being damaged by piracy and theft. After that, we can discuss issues such as their purchasing from us. It makes no sense to discuss the latter while they are unjustly profiting from our R&D.

[Bogolyubski]

Thank you for mentioning the IP disaster with China! They have no regard for copyrights or patents whatsoever. Free trade is one of those things that looks reasonable in theory, but these inconvenient little facts keep getting in the way. Until the time come when China a) observes the treaties it has signed; b) stops using slave labor; and c) conducts business affairs in a reasonably open and honest manner, there should be stiff tariffs on all imports from China. MFN should be repealed. It'll never happen, though, because there are way too many crony capitalists in this country who want it this way.

[maui_hawaii]

If the US population wants to continue to purchase goods from China, so be it.

Not exactly the case or point imho.

You said "want to...purchase"...

I say they don't have a preference.

There is not some natural desire to buy stuff from them, but rather the opposite.

If not for intentioinal distortions in the way trade goes down, much of the investment in china and imports to america will shift to other 3rd regions.