Economically, free trade is the only rational policy. It cannot be denied that less-than-free trade imposes costs on many people, as it benefits others. Less-than-free trade gets in the way of competitive advantage, and thus, necessarily reduces productivity both in the U.S. and abroad.
There are valid national security reasons for less-than-free trade—tariffs, protection, etc. But such policies impose costs, just as having an army, navy, etc., imposes heavy costs. Less-than-free trade is justified for national security reasons, and the costs should be counted among the costs of national security. We SHOULD be as independent as possible in energy, minerals, etc.
If our own government were not strangling oil, gas, and coal, Islam would be a quaint phenomenon as it was 100 years ago. We should be doing everything we can to return the Middle East to squalor and bankruptcy.
But most restrictions on trade are just a crooked racket for those industries that bribe Congress the most, or those that Congress threatens in order to “milk” industries.
Your free trade illusions will never die but know that Koreans, Japanese, Chinese are at least as smart as you and rejected that BS free trade ideology decades ago
You are just mouthing the common Anglo-American-libertarian free trade prejudices. Other cultures full of high IQ people reject them and laugh as such naivete as to how world trade works. All three nations are doing just fine with their mercantilist trade practices
Really? How’s that “free trade” thing working for the China-US trade deficit? Truly free trade is an academic exercise between honest actors, of which China is not.
Dennis, it’s not even that I disagree with your points, it’s that you are an unpleasant, rude jerk. It’s you I don’t like, not your so called knowledge.