• jonathan@lemmy.zip
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    2 days ago

    That’s it. That’s the only reason.

    Manufacturing labour costs are far cheaper outside of China but the skills aren’t available. While labour costs are always a factor, the US just doesn’t have enough skilled manufacturing engineers or the supply chain you get somewhere like Shenzen.

    • Ulrich@feddit.org
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      2 days ago

      the US just doesn’t have enough skilled manufacturing engineers or the supply chain

      That’s because it was all outsourced to China because they utilize cheap/free labor.

      If we had started doing tariffs 30 years ago we could have prevented that. Or if we enacted tariffs as part of a larger plan to slowly transition that industry back over the next 20 years, we could probably do that as well.

      But just slapping a 250% tariff overnight and expecting everything to sort itself out is the kind of a plan only the orange moron could come up with.

    • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works
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      2 days ago

      The US had and has plenty, which is why manufacturing started in the US and migrated out once processes standardized enough to bring in less competent labor. Then labor became more competent, so more companies moved their operations there. A lot of US manufacturing engineers work with Chinese manufacturing facilities, because that’s where the labor is.

      If the US wants to bring manufacturing back, it needs to be cheaper to do it domestically. That means automation, better materials transportation, and cheap raw materials.

      I don’t see the point. Instead of bringing back manufacturing, improve education and focus on higher value work.