Secondly, China's coddling, was a method for them to acquire plastic cheaper than production cost, and recycle them into products and sell them. This was a way to fuel the furnace of China's economy.
However, now that China's economy has grown and its people have higher standards of living, Its economy is switching to more tech-based products than plastic industry. Environmental concerns also pose problems given China's pollution index. The plastic imports have since ceased.
Things similar to that, yes. One of Trump's goals is to not let China do things that Americans can do for themselves. Everything you stated includes that.
It is detrimental because it is costing us money. That's the problem. Any kind of dealings you have with a foreign country has a price tag attached to them. Currently, our country is getting closer to being able to do things for ourselves.
America can't fix the plastic problem. they don't have the infastructure yet. Only china has the capability to recycle plastics at this high of a rate.
Do you realize that the only reason China has been able to break down plastics at the rate they do it is that they have a socialist, Communist country where they have a whole bunch of workers that are underpaid? Their workers are slaves to the system. It would be best for America to come into its own as an independent country and learn to recycle/break down our own plastics.