For whom is manufacturing lucrative? The capital owners. Isn't that why we had all those labour disputes and replacement of labour with capital? As others have been pointing out this is mentioned in the article: "Because of automation, there are far fewer jobs in factories. But the value of stuff made in America reached a record high in the first quarter of 2016".
Is China better, or just cheaper, due to starting from a low wage baseline in a blank slate with few environmental or worker protections?
Is it just an advantage from not having yet depleted its natural resources? The UK steel industry was built near iron and coal mines, almost all of which are now closed.
China is better. They have a rich, Shenzen style ecosystem for all kinds of manufacturing. They are not perceived as better because of the cultural distance and because of deliberate obfuscation on the part of marketing departments.
The US still has a lead in things that are heavily automated and meant for domestic consumption, and in super design intensive things- machines with engines, maybe Intel's fabs.
Is China better, or just cheaper, due to starting from a low wage baseline in a blank slate with few environmental or worker protections?
Is it just an advantage from not having yet depleted its natural resources? The UK steel industry was built near iron and coal mines, almost all of which are now closed.