yes, while that's true, you are forgetting one thing: the n900 isn't made in the EU (at least not the ones shipping to the states).
i assumed we were talking about consumer electronics, and these devices tend to be produced in low-wage countries and shipped around the world.
for such globally sold devices, europe's high cost of labour comes into play and translates (by means of the free market) directly into higher prices.
the american buyer of the german suitcases you mentioned on the other hand has to finance the "expensive" workers in germany.
if you look at consumer goods, it's usually only the top quality products which are exported, because you can't compete with mediocre products when your costs are ten times that of a local producer.