Your humble author acknowledges not being as eloquent as others, or readily able to self-restrict to simple yet catchy wording and/or phrases, but nonetheless can be willing to engage in a civilized discussion, even when blocked on social media. One such series of questions involves questions about, and/or confusion over, manufacturing and regulations.
To answer, even if just in part, an honest question, your humble author responds to this Twitter/X thread below.
“If US companies have off shored manufacturing due to US laws and regulations, why is it acceptable for those same companies to import the goods back to the US with impunity? The companies are point blank avoiding US laws in doing so. That’s what’s at issue.”
To understand why, one must differentiate between the laws/taxes/regulations involved in manufacturing, specifically, domestically and the laws/taxes/regulations over the manufactured goods/parts themselves.
Generally speaking, an imported good must meet the same requirements as any domestically manfactured good to be sold, such as safety and efficacy. But even then in many cases a foreign company manufacturing in a foreign country can be required to meet the requirements of U.S. laws/taxes/regulations as it pertains to the safety/efficacy of said goods, such as, for example, applies to food and drugs.
This may require a non-financial audit, certifications involving recognized harmonized standards, &c. The laws being avoided are not laws pertaining the the manufacture of the goods themselves, but to other conditions involving running a business.
This is not unfair to domestic manufacturers because they have to meet the same requirements and adhere to the same regulations when it comes to the goods themselves. The difference is the application of other business related burdens, and the unfairness comes from the U.S., as well as state and localities, imposing excessive laws/taxes/regulations.
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