China: Threat or opportunity?

Various suggestions for the US finishers and platers to help fight the loss of their metal finishing industry to offshore producers are discussed. The US finishing industry has shrunk by 20 percent over the previous three years, with almost all business lost to offshore finishers and platers. In addition to substantially lower wages in China and other Asian countries and looser environmental laws, the US manufacturers must compete against industries that are state-owned enterprises (SOE) or subsidized by Chinese government. Manufacturing of medical equipment will not go offshore due to liability issues which will also keep manufacturing of airbags for automobiles in the US.