I think they just use this as another form of taxation.
If a $20 pant doubles to $40, it still beats a domestic one (if there is even one) with one hand.
If the US really wants to reboot manufacturing, first I agree with what you said, it should focus on national security goods as well as higher value add goods. Second, the US should actually lower the tax for machines that build these items and import them to build up these businesses, and third, then it should move upstream i.e. to build those machines domestically and push the taxation higher.
If a $20 pant doubles to $40, it still beats a domestic one (if there is even one) with one hand.
If the US really wants to reboot manufacturing, first I agree with what you said, it should focus on national security goods as well as higher value add goods. Second, the US should actually lower the tax for machines that build these items and import them to build up these businesses, and third, then it should move upstream i.e. to build those machines domestically and push the taxation higher.
The current policy seems to be the most idiotic.