Mexicans get a fraction of the wages of Americans; because (on average) they are only a fraction as productive. That doesn’t mean the individual Mexicans don’t work hard — it means that their entire economy (infrastructure, political system, education system, etc.) does not work as well as the American economy.
The cost of living is much different in other countries. It’s not a 1 to 1 so in order to for for workers to compete with dirt road country works in other countries the policy should either be to ensure that other countries are treating the workers fairly, keep the cost of living increases in the U.S much, much lower (Not sure quantitative easing helps with this), force other countries to apply the exact same over head costs (i.e regulations) as the U.S or tarriffs to balance all of the above. You’re never going to be able to compete on a wage level because Mexico, China and the like force their people to live off of $1/day. In some cases this is done because the state pays for everything (see China). Bottom line, it’s not free and fair at all. For Conservatives to suggest that it is and that American companies just have to find a way to do things more efficiently is a bold faced lie. On principal, I agree; fair trade is good but you’re not trading with other “American-Like” countries so foreign governments are putting their thumb on the scale to say the least.