Re: US: manufacturing

[Seth Sandronsky <ssandron@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

The "efficiency" of producing in the U.S. as a result of the nation's
obstacles to free trade ....

Seth Sandronsky

Some Lost Jobs May Never Come Back
Improved Productivity Allowed Manufacturers to Reduce Payrolls Permanently

By John M. Berry
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, November 29, 2003; Page E01

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In the auto industry, for example, competition has been so strong that both
domestic and foreign automakers have been forced to pass on much of their
cost savings to buyers in the form of lower prices. The "foreign"
competition has been particularly fierce because automakers with overseas
headquarters will build about 7 million cars and trucks this year in highly
efficient U.S. plants.

Economic Reporting Review
By Dean Baker
August 25, 2003

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At one point the article cites the location of a BMW plant in South Carolina
as an example of how free trade has benefited the state (In South Carolina,
Jobs Losses May Erode Support for Bush, Michael Janofsky, New York Times,
August 18, 2003, page A1). Actually, foreign investment is a direct
alternative to trade.  Many foreign companies, including in the auto
industry, have chosen to locate manufacturing facilities in the United
States precisely because imports into the country faced barriers.

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