One big fly in the ointment are the big retailers.
Several years ago I watched a documentary about WalMart and it’s tactics.
WalMart demanded Rubbermaid sell them it’s product at X dollars.
Rubbermaid said it wasn’t possible because the price quoted by WalMart would bankrupt Rubbermaid.
WalMarts response was to call each store and pull all Rubbermaid products from the sales floor immediately.
They also cancelled all undelivered orders.
Weeks later Rubbermaid not only accepted WalMarts offer, but rebated the product then sitting in the stores back rooms.
Rubbermaid ended up laying off most of their US employees and shifting production to China.
When I would go back to work after my home time, I would often pick up OTC meds in North Carolina.
Those loads were usually “drop and hook”, I would drop an empty trailer and pick up a loaded trailer.
One day I arrive to get a load and the load wasn’t ready.
I waited.
The next day, still no load.
The plant finally sent someone to see us.
WalMart had cancelled all orders from the company *nationwide* in order to “negotiate” lower prices.
In the next year or so that OTC company started production offshore in order to meet WalMarts price demands.
WalMart alone has sent millions of jobs overseas.
I completely stopped shopping at WalMart about six years ago.
Sam Walton is dead and his Buy American campaign died with him.
Yes, I will, and do, pay a slightly higher price for Made in the USA products.
I had never thought of that aspect of the WalMart empire and jobs outsourcing. Good info. Thanks.
Walmart forces American suppliers out of business or forces them to produce overseas, while we have enormous consolidation and price-fixing in telecoms, ISP's, cable, airlines, etc.
I'm all for free trade and vigorous competition within the United States, but I don't understand why we tolerate such predatory and monopoly practices by American and foreign firms.