most of the price of low cost high volume goods such as food is comprised of 'value' added after production. warehousing, transport, retail etc. all the employees in these services have to be paid in accordance with domestic minimum wage laws. all the transport vehicles are subject to domestic tax and all the fuel they use is taxed domestically too. warehouses and retail outlets need to pay rent in the domestic market. all the companies involved have to be complaint with regulation, which is an added cost to overhead. businesses selling these goods at a retail level need to advertise to survive, and that cost is passed onto the consumer. and every product sold is subject to value added tax when you finally purchase the item. even if you look at domestic agricultural products like livestock and fruit and vegetables and compare the price the farmer sells the goods for and the price you pay at the supermarket you will be shocked at the disparity.
Australia