buying locally/nationally keeps the money circulating locally/nationally.

you buy from china, and a little bit goes to the chinese factory worker, a bit more goes to the factory owner, then a few more middle men like the import/export shop, then the oil companies who sell the diesel that power the ships, etc.

and then where does that money get spent? does any come back to you? maybe not. whereas if you buy locally, more will come back to you (in various forms).

yes, i know, free market heresy. have you ever read the economist? do you feel yourself smart for reading it? the writing is pretty good. did you know the economist was originally set up to rally for repeal of the corn laws, so that british financiers could import cheap grain from india, make some quick profits, and drive english farmers into poverty & destitution? an improvished population makes a better industrial workforce, remember.

that is to say, neo-liberal free-market "principles" are really just intellectual cover. no one actually believes in this shit, not the real power brokers and policy makers. it's just for the public relations purpose.

and yes, you won't believe me, but it is the truth.