THE DETERIORATION OF THE U.S. INDUSTRIAL BASE

Lax Enforcement of Trade Laws and the Effect on the U.S. Economy 

Since 2000, the U.S. manufacturing sector has experienced enormous job losses and the flight of countless factories and companies overseas. If our political leaders allow this trend to continue, America faces the very real possibility of losing much of its basic manufacturing capability.  The very future of U.S. manufacturing has been placed in doubt by the severity of this trend of job loss and outsourcing, and its continuation could threaten our national security and economic power in the world. The time is now for a serious plan to save this vital sector of our economy. 

While U.S. manufacturers have been adversely affected by a variety of factors, none has been more consistently harmful or injurious than the uneven playing field they face in foreign trade.  Through many years of flawed choices, political expediency and questionable trade priorities, we have allowed the deck to become stacked against U.S. manufacturers and employees.  Now, we have reached a tipping point.  Our leaders must remedy their failure to support America’s manufacturing base.  They must acknowledge its critical role in our economy and offer adequate and viable alternatives to workers and communities.  Without this political leadership, these trends will render irreparable harm to our economy.  But if our leaders utilize the tools at their disposal to enforce our trade laws and enhance, rather than weaken, our industrial base, there is no doubt that U.S. manufacturers and their employees can compete and win in this global economy. 

Click here to read more about how the enforcement of our trade laws is vitally important to a healthy U.S. economy.