A lot is made of free trade and tariffs. And we all know that countries like China have in recent decades had the significant manufacturing advantage of low wages. Meanwhile the United States as a significant advantage over other advanced countries that is not discussed – leave.
Most advanced countries provide 4 weeks of annual leave for full-time employees. Some, like France with 6 weeks, offer more. The US is at the very bottom, with just 2 weeks (and that is not federally mandated). And, from my experience as an employer in the US, employees can be reluctant to even take the whole 2 weeks.
Now I learn, thanks to the coronavirus, that paid sick leave is not federally mandated either. While 70% or so of US workers do have paid sick leave, it is decided at the state or employer level. And lots of workers, typically the lowest paid, will not be paid when they are sick.
This is exploitative, (and not good for society), and gives the US a distinct advantage. Future trade negotiations could/should require the US to catch up with the rest of the civilised world, and give their workers a break.