The authors are not looking at the big picture. It matters little that imported goods are less expensive, when the method of making them less expensive has been to export the production factories to other countries, putting Americans out of work.
A $50 toaster might seem expensive to a family earning the median income, but a $10 toaster might be out of reach for that same family whose jobs have been exported.
Trade has to be of true mutual benefit. Not for a few power brokers at the top, but for the people.
The people don't negotiate trade deals, the power brokers do.
Good luck finding a $10 toaster. Shoddy ones with poor reviews start at around $17.00.
Ours needs replacing. Purchased in 2008 for $20. Comparable quality today is somewhere between $35 and $70. $70 for a toaster!
Everything seems to be up around 20%-25% from just a year ago. Can’t be the value of the dollar, which is at 101+% at the moment.
OTOH, one of my accounts sells is Canada, so I need to file the paperwork (every component of the item made in USA) every 2 years. No one checks, of course. Right now, American items in Canada are just around 25% more expensive based on currency values.
It’s simply nuts. And don’t get me started on food costs.
If you think there is a $40.00 difference between a 3rd world made toaster and a domestic made toaster I got news for you. The difference is really maybe a dollar per taster. The “Captains of Industry” are destroying our manufacturing sector for pennies on the dollar.