Americans enjoy a certain standard of living that is supported by high wages and worker protections. This includes FLSA, minimum wage, a 40 hour work week, OSHA safety standards, and general worker's rights. These standards do have a cost which drives up the final market value of the end product.
Many countries have few or no worker's rights, extremely low wages and unsafe working conditions, in many cases hardly better than slaves. American workers cannot compete with these conditions and prosper.
A tax introduced on goods imported from such countries, relative to the standard of living of their working class would protect and expand the American Way of Life, and create US Jobs. Proceeds could be put toward social security to reduce the deficit.