?Is the increasing proliferation of imported goods a contractual infringement on American business rights?
?Is the rising tide of imports a marketing and manufacturing initiated consumer benefit?
?Are increased imports in Los Angeles merely a trend?
?Are layoffs and plant closings directly resulting from increased imports?
The above queries are herein discussed in respective order. The first question is certainly the most legally oriented and is discussed from a constitutional perspective. The second issue is essentially an observation of the American market and, like the first query, is addressed without particular reference to Los Angeles. The remaining two questions, however, have specific Los Angeles implications and have been researched through recent sources pertaining to the Los Angeles area.
IS THE PROLIFERATION OF IMPORTED GOODS A CONTRACTUAL INFRINGEMENT ON AMERICAN BUSINESS RIGHTS?
The issue of whether the increasing volume of imported goods acts as a "contract infringement on American business rights" must begin with an attempt to find a source of such rights. First, one should recognize that importing foreign goods involves international economic relations, an area well within the scope of the foreign affairs authority granted to Congress by the Constitution. Indeed, the Constitution explicitly grants Congress the power "to regulate Commerce with the foreign Nations . . . (and) to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers" (Art. 1, sec. 8[3,18]). Thus, with a constitutional grant of authority, Congress can regulate foreign commerce, which obviously includes the establishment of any import quotas or regulations, so long as Congressional exercise of such power does not impermissibly infringe upon a constitutionally protected interest.
Now realizing that the power to set import quotas has been constitutionally given to Congress, the issue ...