Quote Originally Posted by Canadian Visitor View Post
The way to address this [[or its equivalent, for me 'buy Canada' etc.

Is to both impose certain minimum standards of quality, where practical; and to penalize goods made under profoundly poor environmental or labour conditions.

Other countries do this to the United States [[and not unjustifiably may I add).

Your national standards on food production leave something to be desired [[see pink slime, chlorinated chicken, and growth hormones in milk cattle among other issues). I should add here, Canada isn't pristine in such matters, just not quite as bad.

But I digress.

The point is that by imposing standards on imports, be it cars or tools etc. to say 'Thou Shalt' make something this good, or for instance, for simplicity's sake, impose minimum warranty requirements); along w/penalizing if labour wages in the originating country are below 'x' on a Purchasing-Power-Parity basis.

These options exist.

Governments in much of the world lack enthusiasm for using such tools.

The United States being an example of note.
I think your reference to American food standards is laughable -- Chinese consumers are clamoring for U.S. prepared food products because of our high food safety standards.