[xzins]

The part that is hidden is that most of the stuff we bring in from China is so low priced due to slave wages that it forces our businesses to keep our workers’ wages low just to compete. OR it forces them to shut their doors. OR it forces them to look for a low-cost labor market to move their business to.

The anti-tariff/tax folks will say that these things will increase the cost of goods on the shelf for American consumers.

What they fail to say is that those low prices mean we lose jobs, low-ball pay, or lose manufacturing altogether.

I’d rather pay a bit more for higher quality US goods and have fewer shirts or trousers or whatever AND have fewer pairs of them, than to have no job at all.

[central_va]

Using slave labor can only go so far. Most goods are only 5-8% cheaper made in China. It is a myth that Chinese made goods are massively cheaper than domestic made goods. That would imply the free trade is actually helping the USA. It is not.

When you buy a retail product made in China you are paying for slave 3rd world labor true; but paying first world prices for marketing, corporate staff salaries, engineering, testing, warehousing, shipping, stock dividends and CEO bonuses. The worst of all worlds.

So a small tariff would offset the 3rd labor advantage.

[riverdawg]

“I’d rather pay a bit more for higher quality US goods and have fewer shirts or trousers ...”

You can still buy a made-in-the-USA all-cotton dress shirt, but it will most likely cost you +$100. I like Gitman Bro. shirts if/when I find them at a year-end or clearance discount. Some online merchants sell vintage Sero shirts at around $50. Here is one list of US-made shirts:

http://www.americanologist.com/2014/12/15-sources-of-quality-mens-dress-shirts-made-in-usa/

[arrogantsob]

Removal of barriers to imports would solve some of the China problems. It has high tariffs on certain products or even outright bans. Japan has the same problem.