The US is undergoing substantial restructuring of its industrial base. Manufacturing jobs are being "lost" to overseas low-labour-cost countries, most notably, China. At the same time, imports are exceeding exports by significant margins on a continuing basis. Added to the burden of unregulated international competition are the regulatory environment in the US and an unequal international regulatory environment. Lowering production costs is forcing manufacturres to seek the low-cost production offered by developing countries and economies. Regulation of the Environmental Protection Agency is producing benefits, but at the same time, burdens when regulats are ineffective or inappropriately applied. Several examples of unneeded and costly regulations "that almost happened" are given here.
