It started with lowering the import tariffs back in the 60’s. We’ve been offshoring lots of industries ever since. And now it’s weakened the economy to the point that everyone is seeking out welfare to survive.
The high taxes and increasing public spending in the 50s were the start of it; that drove manufacturing jobs out of many big cities. Dropping tariffs while adding Medicare and the welfare state really compounded that pre-existing problem.
BTW, the first VWs were imported to the US in 1949.
Size of the economy in the 60’s versus now?
When a country sees a benefit with its employment source being exported it should re-examine it's real effect on GNP. Its corporate sector is gaining but the government sector is eating the cost of unemployment. If the gains made by the corporation are offset by the costs to government, this would be a national loser. What the consumer saves in product cost, is made up by increased taxes. A bummer.
Trade deal should have a JOB IMPACT STUDY to see if it is a winner or a loser.