It also is clear that simply imposing a tariff on Chinese goods won't help America's Economy, especially in the short run. TANSTAAFL being immutable, it is the Chinese citizenry currently bearing those costs you mentioned.
The sad truth on the slave labor is like the sweatshops of the early industrial revolution, they do provide a better (only in the extreme relative sense of the word)existence than being out of work and starving to death. Our companies provide the cheapest foreign aid. It's thanks to American companies, among others, that wages and incomes have been rising in China. As the excess supply is employed the wage rises, but the adjustment process is slow.
They don't call it the dismal science for nothing.
Simple - add the cost "savings" of not doing "X" to the price of the product as a tarif. Once the junk coming from Asia is no longer competitive from a price aspect - quality will become the determining factor.
It also is clear that simply imposing a tariff on Chinese goods won't help America's Economy, especially in the short run.
Sure it will - people will no longer just buy the cheap junk (especially because the price will increase but the quality will still be crap!) - thus the trade balance will shift back home which increases GDP and employment.
It's thanks to American companies, among others, that wages and incomes have been rising in China.
I could care less about that. It is being done at the expense of domestic manufacturing and that is wrong. Make them play by the same rules that a domestic company must or they can dump thier junk in some third world shithole ... It is not the duty of the unemployed American worker to ensure that Apple makes a profit selling i-whatevers, produced with child and slave labour, with no regard for the environment.