As those countries rebuilt after WWII, they ended up with a much more modern manufacturing infrastructure than our own; that had an impact.
Cheap labor was never a factor in industrial might before; Germany in particular had very expensive labor, yet they were a powerhouse. The colonies which might have provided cheap labor were instead used to provide only cheap resources.
So I’ve heard two arguments. The US led in manufacturing because other countries were bombed out; and other countries benefited from modern manufacturing because they were bombed out.
I think the key is private sector investing. Saving and investing are underappreciated. Marx considered returns to saving and investing evil. Keynes considered savings a waste because it took away from consumption.
Intelligent investing prepares a prosperous future. Intelligent investing is much more likely in the private sector than the public sector. With private sector investing, investors are risking their own money - a great tonic against superficial thinking, egotism, and political correctness.
There is more private sector investing when there is a stable political environment that favors saving and investing. This is generally lacking around the world. Sometimes it is lacking in the US as well.
Except for Japan, Asian countries were not industrial powers. We don’t have a major trade imbalance with most of the E7. The big imbalance is with third world countries that the USA purposely transplanted it’s industrial base to. Those Asian countries weren’t rebuilt after WWII, there were simply built up artificially. One of the most stupid things a country every did. Historically it will go done as one of biggest follies of all time.