Look at product costs. The wage differential dwarfs the costs of regulation.
The CEO’s complain about regulation because it’s a corporate headache and they still maintain some headquarters and operations here.
Not everything can be easily automated. That’s why they use Chinese labor. If all the processes were automated, then raw material costs and transportation costs would rule the day. But they aren’t. And that’s where most of our jobs have gone.
The manufacturing that has remained in the U.S. is highly automated. But their is an opportunity to bring back jobs that aren’t highly automated.
“...their is an opportunity to bring back jobs that aren’t highly automated”....
I don’t see that happening as long as they can pay a Chinese worker $4. for a days work and work him ten hour and more shifts.
Apple designs here but assembles in China....same with Many Furniture companies now....even Ethan Allen has gone overseas....though they have a “presence” in the US the manufacturing goes on outside the US and shipped back here.