No Longer “Made in America”

There was a time, everything was virtually  ‘made in America’.

After World War II, with Europe devastated, with America’s work force over flowing,  increasing production was survival.   American factories were working round the clock, and goods were rolling off the assembly line.

Those countries which had connections with the United Kingdom, such as the colonies did have shelves filled with their products, but often the cars, the typewriters, the televisions, the refrigerators were  American made.

That time slowly changed.

Japan began to take over much of the market.   At first slow, then as expertise increased, more and more. A large number of Japanese goods were being sold, from radios to Cars.  By the 1970s Korea was in the mix.

American products, which once had a virtual monopoly, were replaced or in competition with products from other nations.

By the 1980s, for the rest of the world,  American cars were a fraction of the market.  Japanese vehicles filled the roads. This has continued into the 21st Century and the greatest competitor was Korea.

Just standing on a road in a 3rd or 4th World nation, one sees NO American cars at all.   There are no American cell phones, televisions, computers, micro-waves available.  In short no consumer goods come from America, or there are so few importers that “Made in America” is market rare.

This has happened simply because America ignored the 3rd and 4th World.  China didn’t.

America limited its interest. Certain countries, such as Mexico, made trade deals with America so that their shelves were full of American goods.   This was due to proximity, as transport costs were so much less.

With Trump’s insanity bubbling over,  suddenly, in 2017, Mexico  realises there is a world out there. They don’t have to buy from the United States.    They can form agreements with other countries, especially, China.

Other nations, getting ready for Trump’s tossing of his ‘toys’ out of the pram, are scurrying around, looking for other countries they can enter agreements with.   And China is at the front of the queue.

Trump is going to do more to destroy America’s economy than has been predicted.   Simply put, to not deal with Trump has become the motto of most nations in the world.

Why would anyone living in an Arab nation buy anything made in America when they can buy elsewhere?

It isn’t difficult, doesn’t cause dislocation; it is as hard as picking up a Cadbury instead of a Hershey Bar.

And since most people in the world aren’t white Americans,  are shocked and disgusted by the behaviour of Trump, picking up a Cadbury has become a political statement.