OK, for disclosure purposes, I own a powder metal parts manufacturing plant, and export throughout the world. My son in law's family owns a multi-plant manufacturing company, also exporting throughout the world. About a decade ago, I got into a long discussion with my SIL's father about their manufacturing overseas (he was CEO at the time, now my SIL is). As he explained it, he had two choices: either sell overseas/develop manufacture overseas, or foreign nationals will purchase domestic goods and reverse engineer & set up their own manufacturing overseas. With selling/manufacturing, at leadt they could control part of the process. In any case, it was going to happen.
In my case, my largest customers are foreign owned, Canada, Mexico or Japan based. In my industry, in the world, the EU is suffering the most by their restrictive trade policies (mainly automotive components). Those parts are on a slow drip relocation the the Americas, both North and South.
Now, for my US friends: those that condemn companies such as Dewalt for their imports may be surprised to learn that many, if not most components are domestically sourced and assembled outside the US (I make some components their battery tools).
Anger should not be towards the people, products or location, but rather at the various government's trade policies. From China, I have some very fine tube stereo high fidelity components, that US makers would have a hard time matching at ten times the cost. Now, bear in mind the cost of these items was higher than commonly available components, but I'm talking of the high end market. We're seeing the same thing with handplanes, such as the Woodriver/Quansheng versus LN. I am stating away from patent infringement copies, such as out and out copies of some of the fine LV tools, that has happened.
Doh yes I think you are correct one black wooden plane.
