Adam Smith showed the economic superiority of Free Trade vs Mechantilism. Ricardo’s iron logic showed Free Trade benefits are built in, almost a law of nature.
You need to read a little deeper into your Adam Smith
“Adam Smith showed the economic superiority of Free Trade vs Mechantilism. “
Cite a single era of Smithsonian Free Trade.
I contend it has NEVER existed.
Never.
It’s just a theory. And an unproven one at that.
And if folks want to take down all defenses to all the other Mercantilists, they are just stupid, or suicidal, or both.
The founding fathers were well aware of Adam Smiths fairly tales. They rejected Smith. Thank God they did. Because the nation they built behind a protectionist wall was awesome.