But why optimize for how many dollars something costs? The primary reason shipping goods like iPhones across the ocean appears cost efficient is due to exploiting cheap labor. We could lower the minimum wage, eliminate worker protections, or institute slavery to drive down costs, too. It’s not moral because it happens somewhere else.

And cargo ships are large sources of pollution and have substantial tax privileges; the costs are externalized.

Tangentially, if you read the “There’s Too Much Stuff” article that was recently on the front page, there’s plenty of cheap junk I’d love to see priced out of existence.

Anyway, the deeper issues we have are not likely to be solved by global trade and cheaper goods. There are other factors which I’d argue are more important.