That would require mining operations to be cheaper than the higher chinese export prices. I do not know if that is possible with labour costs, environmental requirements, permits and other obligations.

With their slow print speed, those cheaper tank inkjets are maybe usable for mostly paperless offices, or a home user that likes to print more often. You’d have to print at least one or two color pages per month to keep the jets clean.

There are some inkjet options that do not follow that pricing model. The printers with an ink tank (epson ecotank, canon megatank, …) with ink for 3000 pages start at about $150, but are probably slower than the laser.