I do find flaws in the free trade philosophy, but before we resort to tariffs, we need to take a look at other things as well. I think we need to reduce the red tape, taxes, environmental regulations and so on so we can make it friendlier to produce tires (and other things) here in the U.S. I admit that maybe tariffs are part of the equation but they alone will not bring our jobs back, we need to consider the other factors I mentioned as well. Trouble is, since we have the Zero Administration, they will not do that at all.
You are correct. Companies didn’t move overseas because they are traitors; they moved because it was either move or die.
I would rather keep the 10% - the management - here, and move 90% of the workforce overseas, than lose 100% of the jobs.
The US Government and the attitude of the general populace is the reason companies outsource. Costs could be equalized if we’d be sane about the requirements placed on our companies. And the current Administration is simply making things worse.
Don’t they realize that most of those “Chinese” tires are made in China ON CONTRACT for companies like Goodyear, Coker, and Cooper? Tariffs on those tires will cost sales of those tires for US companies. Basically killing income to our own companies.
The US will continue to lose manufacturing jobs as long as the US Government and populace continue to consider business as a problem, not the solution. I know, I founded and ran a US manufacturing company in Lynnwood, WA for 7 years before I finally got fed up with the whole nightmare and shut it down. Twenty one employees - all with good pay (well above minimum, even the part-time janitor made $14 per hour), full benefits, and a fun workplace.
But the Government considers small business more-and-more the problem, not the solution. I was evil because I was a business owner (never mind my engineers made more than I did). The general public goes along with it, I must be exploiting people, I must be poisoning the Earth, I must be wrong and should have to pay more.
Enough. It’s gone, the employees were found new jobs, and it’s closed. I now work with companies in Asia (not just China) in countries where business is respected, generation of wealth is something to be pursued.
The US populace and the US Government are the problem. Companies leave not because they hate America, but because they cannot survive in what America has become. The American ideal is gone!.
Protectionists do not understand this, and refuse to admit it. So they will demonize the companies even more, rather than focus on what is the real problem. So much easier that way, you know...