[toddmorey]

Ok, not my favorite narrative, but assume asymmetric application of intellectual property rights was a big factor. Wouldn't the US exploiting asymmetric labor wages, rights, and conditions be the even bigger story? It still feels like a short-sighted own goal. The US abandoned its ability to manufacture. Maybe dark factories and robotics can bring it back, but manufacturing supply chains are just so much more advanced in Asia than in the US.

[smallmancontrov]

> Wouldn't the US exploiting asymmetric labor wages, rights, and conditions be the even bigger story?

Yes, but "the US" is reductive. The exploitation wasn't done by the towns having their tentpole industries shipped overseas, it was done by the people shipping them overseas and pocketing the profit. US capital owners made a deal with the Chinese Communist Party that was good for both of them and bad for the US.

[airstrike]

That's really well said.

The promise was always to get cheaper goods and services in the US, so long as the Chinese firms never competed. Guess what, they compete now.

[tmnvix]

And good for the people of China presumably.