To me an important part seems to be the fact that the US has an extremely competitive tech sector – personified in Silicon Valley – that has been cultivated ove

To me an important part seems to be the fact that the US has an extremely competitive tech sector – personified in Silicon Valley – that has been cultivated over decades, basically since the US rose to prominence after second world war. Through innovative symbiosis between universities, business', talent, steady US defence spending, plentiful of financing and business friendly regulations it has become the preeminent tech sector only rivalled by the Chinese which was born out of protectionism. With the invention of the internet and the unprecedented level of free trade, a few companies from Silicon Valley has successfully monopolised large part of not only the US market but also the European market. And not only that, this was done in record speed, Facebook was only founded in 2004. Traditional manufacturing sectors are much more dependent on the local market than tech companies. After the second world war Europe was destroyed and effort when in to rebuilding countries and relations. Furthermore the mindset that gave birth to Silicon Valley to combine raw capitalism with university campus' wouldn't have had a chance. Rigid universities, socialist political discourse and unions would have prevented it. Perhaps the mindset is changing, question is to what degree protectionism will be used to gain a footing in the vital tech sector.