Here's a list of items that the US cannot produce or would be extremely difficult for the US to produce:
1. Certain Minerals and Rare Earth Elements: The U.S. is heavily reliant on imports for certain minerals crucial for high-tech manufacturing, including rare earth elements used in electronics, batteries, and magnets. While some domestic production exists or could be developed, it likely could not ever be enough to meet demand or be cost-competitive with established global suppliers.
2. Specialized Pharmaceuticals and Medical Equipment: Some pharmaceuticals and medical devices require highly specialized manufacturing processes or ingredients that might not be readily available or cost-effective to produce in the U.S. We often already have the highest priced Pharmaceuticals in the entire world. Since we can't produce many of these, tariffs will only result in even higher prices.
3. Tropical Agricultural Products: The U.S. climate is not suitable for growing certain tropical crops like coffee, cocoa, bananas, or certain spices. Tariffs on these products would primarily affect consumers without stimulating domestic production. 70% of Americans drink coffee.
4. Certain Types of Electronics and Components: While the U.S. designs and develops many advanced electronics, the manufacturing of certain components, like specific semiconductors or display panels, is often concentrated in other countries due to established supply chains and economies of scale. Tariffs could disrupt these supply chains without necessarily leading to domestic production. Anything that could potentially produce these items domestically is years out and, even then, domestic production would still be more expensive than any tariffed import barring extreme geo political shakeup. AND every country that is a producer knows this.
5. Certain Textiles and Apparel: While some textile and apparel manufacturing exists in the U.S., many types of clothing and fabrics are significantly cheaper to produce in other countries with lower labor costs. Tariffs could raise prices for consumers without substantially increasing domestic production. The production infrastructure doesn't exist to meet large scale demand, building the infrastructure is years out. For outdoor brands, you would have to expect the retail costs to mirror that of the BERRY compliant Arc Terx line. That ~$300 Kuiu rain jacket would cost ~$800.
