Item — HN Reader

>For certain definitions of “marginally,” I suppose.

The choice isn't just "manufacture in China" or "manufacture in the US". According to Peter Zeihan's The Accidental Superpower (2014), manufacturing in China has gone from being one quarter as expensive as in Mexico to 25% more expensive. He expects that the US shale and natural gas boom will further reduce costs in Mexico and the US.

Also see "[Why China should follow Trump’s example and cut taxes](http://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/2056874/why-ch.... Quote: "As far as manufacturing is concerned, according to Cao, everything is cheaper in America apart from manpower."

> The choice isn't just "manufacture in China" or "manufacture in the US".

Well, yeah. But the problem is that China has such a huge head start in all this that all the stuff I said about moving manufacturing to America would apply to Mexico too in terms of having to import components and/or raw materials from China, at least at first.

That said, in terms of national security concerns and such, yes, it would be in America's interest for Mexico to be a manufacturing powerhouse at or near China's level, and I'm sure Trump and his fans would appreciate that a booming Mexico would probably mean less illegal immigration to the US.