Yes absolutely, but why not protect these innovations by operating these machines completely under our own supervision?
It's a lot easier to duplicate a production chain if you have full access to the machines (which come with extensive training). And you can even copy the process on a machine-by-machine basis, which makes it much simpler.
1) You do realize a large amount of people here aren't american?
2) Many (including myself) believe that a tightly coupled international trade is the by far most efficient way we have of avoiding violent conflict between countries.
It's a lot easier to duplicate a production chain if you have full access to the machines (which come with extensive training). And you can even copy the process on a machine-by-machine basis, which makes it much simpler.