Many times, it is the American worker, who runs business overseas. I started at Bethlehem Steel at 18 years old There were 32,000 employees there, at that time. What hurt the mill the most, was the benefits bargained for by the unions. Every time a contract was nearing expiration, the mills worked everyone overtime to build up a large inventory. Then at settlement, came the layoffs, as there was too much stock and the increase in wages and benefits drove the price of steel ever higher. I left the mill at 21 and became a police officer because I could count on being paid Ever week 52 weeks a year.
Many were getting 4 and 5 weeks vacation and every 5 years everyone got an extra 13 weeks vacation. Then there was the guaranteed wage. If you were laid off for any reason, the company had to pay the difference between unemployment and your hourly rate. After unemployment ended, the company then was forced to pay you 100%.
Maryland built a bridge, "The Key Bridge, which overlooked Sparrows Point. You could literally spit off the bridge and land on their property. It was cheaper to use Japanese steel than buy from the mill.
It was the United States that built their steel mills, which were more modern the ours and could make steel much cheaper. This was done after the 2nd world war.
We reap what we sow.
