Imports help keep goods affordable in America

As Americans shop for Christmas gifts, they will indeed find that “Made in the USA” items are few and far between (“Buy USA, holiday shoppers, if you can,” Dec. 15). But that’s more cause for celebration than concern. Affordable imports help Americans stretch their dollars and purchase even more presents during the holiday season — or save and invest (perhaps to fulfill a New Year’s resolution). The dollars sent overseas to pay for those goods, meanwhile, create demand for U.S. goods.

Indeed, last year Iowa firms exported $16.5 billion in agricultural products and over $16 billion in manufactured goods ranging from machinery to chemicals to transportation equipment.

This also reveals another truth about the items on store shelves: most aren’t made domestically because Americans are too busy producing more sophisticated goods (and services). Letting companies in China, Mexico and elsewhere manufacture clothing and knickknacks allows Americans to focus on other tasks such as building rockets, making films, and producing the billions of bushels of agricultural products that help feed the world.

Letting workers and companies overseas handle the production of many items allows Americans to devote more energy to what we’re best at. Then, we can trade and reap the benefits of our respective talents.

When shopping this season, don’t fret about the imports on display. Instead, recognize them as a key part of trade and the bountiful prosperity that it provides.

Colin Grabow

Associate Director, Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies, Cato Institute

Washington, D.C.