> If china wants to continue subsidizing their industry below costs of manufacture I see no reason why we shouldn't exploit their generosity
Because the unfair advantage distorts the market leading to a potentially otherwise noncompetitive product destroying the competition at which point they can (and will) jack up prices, so not only do you get more expensive vehicles, but you've also destroyed an entire industry and several adjacent industries at the same time.
It's not like you can't just snap your fingers and re-establish a vehicle manufacturing supply chain once it disappears.
I get people just want cheap vehicles, but the short-term benefit simply isn't worth it.
Purchase discounts for EVs in the US, for instance, didn't discriminate based on manufacturer. You could buy a foreign made EV and you still get the discount.
Discriminatory subsidies, like for instance, funneling billions of dollars per year into Chinese-owned manufacturers of EVs, parts and even even shippers, is not ok.
The US has, of course, been accused of discriminatory subsidies as well and countries have retaliated, correctly, with increased tariffs to offset the unfair advantage.
Because the unfair advantage distorts the market leading to a potentially otherwise noncompetitive product destroying the competition at which point they can (and will) jack up prices, so not only do you get more expensive vehicles, but you've also destroyed an entire industry and several adjacent industries at the same time.
It's not like you can't just snap your fingers and re-establish a vehicle manufacturing supply chain once it disappears.
I get people just want cheap vehicles, but the short-term benefit simply isn't worth it.