Phony straw-man. No one is saying that we should be isolationist. We should, however, protect our workers and our economy. We became the world's biggest economy and still had tariffs and other protectionist measures. In fact, the EU, China, and Japan have various ways to prevent foreign goods from penetrating their markets.
Free trade is good for lowering prices for goods, which helps everyone. But, the loss of jobs and depressed wages is a tough price to pay.
As to China: Well they are a big country with a large population. There is very little we can do to limit their ambitions even if we tried. My view is that having a business relationship with them that is valuable to them is the best way to avoid conflicts.
In the short term, perhaps. In the long run, they will want to exercise their economic and military power to become dominant. They don't share our values and our generosity of spirit. China will not be a defender of democratic ideals and values. They are Communists with a different world view. Human rights are an anathema to them. As we decline as a nation, so will the rights of the individual around the world. When it comes to defending natural rights, the US is the indispensable nation. That will become more and more apparent as our power and influence decline.
Right now they have a very good customer: That’s you and me and lot of other people running around town with their iPads and iPhones.
Those products were invented in the US. It is cheaper to make them in China.
When you think about it does that really happen? If it costs 5% less to make and re import product to the USA from China, does the consumer really get that 5%? If so why did the corporation move it's factory in the first place? It was for the bottom line not the consumer.
Those products were invented in the US. It is cheaper to make them in China.
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Exactly. Should we stop doing that? Should Apple stop exporting jobs?
We could probably do that for a couple of hundred bucks per device. Apple manufacturing employment would be up. Apple automation would be up. Apple would sell fewer iGadgets. Apple sales employment would decline. Fewer people would have iPhones and iPads. Sales to China would decline, probably dramatically.
Personally, I would stick with the current plan.