Racing to the bottom is not the answer...
If Cheap Labor makes the economic world go round... China will own everything...
The notion that tariffs are "bad" is really odd... Tariffs have been around since ancient times...to protect local economies. If you don't protect your local economy ...you will lose it...this is just what happens...
The notion of Free Trade assumed that everyone would do what they do best...and everyone would prosper...ie...buy oranges from Florida...not try to grow them in Michigan!
Free Trade theory was established before technology homogenized the world economy... There are a lot more products to buy now most based on standardized production methods... We are beyond the old models of buying pig iron from England, Lace from Venice and Spices from the Orient...
Now it's just the Cheap Labor and International Capital Model...
As a minimum...if outsiders want to sell in the "advanced" and lucrative American Market...they should pay an "Fee" for the support of our infrastructure and economic system...
Allowing China to enter the US markets totally free of charge while they exploit their cheap labor advantage...and tout their degraded sense of self worth...is a formula for disaster...
If China wants to "play" in our market...they need to help support it...! A 5% "fee" on all Chinese imports would pay for a good single payer health care system for all Americans...and help support the Pentagon budget and the Pax Americana that China has benefited from for decades...
And if they don't like it...let them sell their cheap Televisions in Iran... We can handle it.
