Reference Message Network reported on May 23 that the Japan Daily News published an article titled "Can You Survive in America with Just 'Made in USA' - A Social Experiment by a Japanese Journalist" on May 22. The author is Kajitsu Kunio. The main content is compiled and translated as follows: Last summer, I specially went to the United States to cover the U.S. presidential election, taking the opportunity to visit many places in the United States. I am currently temporarily residing in Texas, in the southern part of the United States. President Trump's "reciprocal tariff" implementation has been postponed, and a tariff reduction agreement has also been reached with China, but the prospect remains full of uncertainty. The increase in tariffs means higher prices for imported goods for Americans. Can people survive in the United States relying solely on "Made in USA"? To this end, I launched a social experiment in Texas. To save money, I have been cooking for myself during my stay in the United States. When selecting ingredients at Walmart, I deliberately checked their place of origin. Oatmeal, bananas, and coffee beans needed for breakfast come from Oregon, Costa Rica, and South America respectively. If we are picky about the origin being the United States, then we can't drink coffee. Rice is produced in California, milk and cheese are locally produced in Texas, boxed salads and beef come from Arkansas, and pork and chicken, although the specific origin is unknown, are clearly labeled as "Made in USA". Seafood is more difficult to handle. Salmon is imported from Chile, frozen shrimp comes from India and Argentina, and tilapia is produced in Brazil. Now let's look at things other than food. Looking around the store, clothing is all imported from China, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Vietnam. There is only one type of T-shirt made in the USA. Coffee cups are priced at $1.99 each, and as expected, they are made in China. All kitchen utensils in the house where I currently rent are made in China. According to Reuters reports, from January to August 2023, sixty percent of the goods sold by Walmart were imported from China. The wealth gap in the United States is becoming increasingly severe. The top 1% of wealthy households own 30.8% of the wealth. Many people believe that without cheap "Made in China", it will be hard to get through tomorrow. Then I went to a specialty store selling cowboy boots and horse gear. I imagined that the proportion of American-made products here should be higher, but the salesperson told me that only about 30% are made in the USA. Salesperson Gina told me: "We export leather, process it in other countries, and then re-import it back to the United States." The same applies to bicycles; before a product is completed, it will cross borders multiple times. Therefore, the losses caused by tariffs are two-way. The Trump administration said, "Tariffs are to bring manufacturing back to the United States," but considering the labor costs in the United States, this is not easy. Data from job websites show that the average hourly wage in Texas was $31 in April. If "illegal" immigrants are forcibly repatriated, the shortage of manpower will further drive up labor costs, and everything will continue to rise in price. It is obvious that Americans cannot survive relying solely on American-made products. The longer President Trump's "tariff war" drags on, the more detrimental it will be for the United States. (Compiled/translated by Liu Lin) Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7507522266884801050/ Disclaimer: This article only represents the author's personal views. Please express your attitude by clicking the "Agree/Disagree" buttons below.