Sorry, this statement is not correct. I'm on the financial and manufacturing side on a automotive aftermarket accessory Manufacture here in the US.
Here is experience first hand speaking and not some internet block opinion.
You CAN manufacture and produce competitively in the US, is is just a matter of how.
Even before Kaizen came, lean manufacturing was a part of my German Engineering degree.
The company which hired me in 1999 had no own manufacturing. As of today our manufacturing spans over 73000 square foot and have 47 full time workers. Over the 2008-2010 down turn we cut back on hours to 32hrs/week for 6 weeks in the summer, but did not cut people. O
I proved for over 13 years now - competitive manufacturing, even in economic downturns is possible.
Just lately we've been asked by one of our competitors to quote out some of their grille guards - because their Chinese ones are late and have bad quality.
The main reason hindering American manufacturing is ---
GREED --- period!