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.
Free trade within the United States was very important. The US Constitution eliminated all duties and imposts between the states. Prior to this states would actually erect tariffs against other states.
With international enemies, friends, rivals etc it is idiocy to engage in free trade with mercantilist nations that engage in predatory trade. We allow China to flood us with cheap goods because it dampens the inflation rate. It destroys good jobs but the elites could care less. Just create more fake Federal Reserve money and put it into the EBT cards
When did I say that everything that somebody might call “free trade” IS free trade?