It’s a common myth, that some people believe that the US can already make everything it needs but is not doing it because China is cheaper. So now that China is more expensive thanks to tariffs, all these US factories are going to boom and create millions of jobs.
Except a lot of these factories don’t exist in the US, at all.
For reference, the whole US has only 1(!) rare earth refinery. Meanwhile China has 90% of the global refining capabilities.
What America lacks isnt only factories and raw material refining capacity. China’s central planning and industrial clusters are important, and they are also backed by a skilled workforce. Those things dont just magically appear. They are built up over time through both market incentives and government support.
It’s a common myth, that some people believe that the US can already make everything it needs but is not doing it because China is cheaper. So now that China is more expensive thanks to tariffs, all these US factories are going to boom and create millions of jobs.
Except a lot of these factories don’t exist in the US, at all. For reference, the whole US has only 1(!) rare earth refinery. Meanwhile China has 90% of the global refining capabilities.
What America lacks isnt only factories and raw material refining capacity. China’s central planning and industrial clusters are important, and they are also backed by a skilled workforce. Those things dont just magically appear. They are built up over time through both market incentives and government support.