Don't get me wrong - I am all for free trade. I am know that many countries are way better at making plenty of things than we are. I don't want trade barriers - I like buying French cheeses, Japanese beer, Italian shoes, Swedish cars. I even like buying things from China, such as all things silk. China has long history of making beautiful silks, Made in China silks make sense.
What I don't completely get and would like to understand better, are th other items, such as stuffed animals, tee shirts, home hardware and even light bulbs. These and jillions of other products are made in China. And so many of these products are no longer made here, at all.
In pursuit of answers - I am setting out to buy only things Not Made in China, unless of course, it is a product for which China is both famous and has a reputation. (Silk, tea, china, jade...)
I anticipate finding products where I just can't avoid Made in China or the price differential makes it insane for me to buy domestic. I want to know why. Why don't US manufacturers make these products anymore? What happened to them?