Posted on 09/09/2016 1:49:55 PM PDT by MichCapCon
If the government prevented people from shopping outside of their own town or state, they would be outraged and recognize it as limiting their freedom. If Michigan businesses were prevented from buying or selling their products to people from other states, most people would understand that to be economically destructive.
Yet when it comes to the issue of foreign trade a lot of people from both sides of the political spectrum are opposed to allowing a similar free flow of products and services between countries. That’s why the two main presidential candidates are able to run their campaigns with antitrade sentiments as key planks.
But international free trade is a good thing. It allows people to sell their products to a much larger group. It gives consumers more choices in what they are buying, making goods and services better and less costly because of the increased competition.
Antitrade sentiment often plays well politically in Michigan. Many people blame foreign trade for the loss of some jobs, though that was occurring before trade agreements were made and is more related to technological advances and labor laws. Even leftist economists at the Economic Policy Institute only blame NAFTA – the trade agreement most frequently cited as economically destructive – for the net loss of 43,600 jobs in Michigan, a state with 4.8 million jobs. This, of course, doesn’t make it any easier for the people who lost these jobs, but it nevertheless shows that even the highest estimates of the negative impact of NAFTA on Michigan workers can find only a minuscule effect.
But it is likely that trade leads to more jobs overall. A new report from The Heritage Foundation looks at trade as it relates to Michigan. In particular, it looks at the benefits from trade – the number of jobs supported by exports, foreign investment in the state, and jobs gained from trade agreements. Here are some facts from the report about trade in Michigan:
1. There are more than 14,500 Michigan businesses that export goods around the world, supporting almost 271,000 jobs.
2. Service exports have more than doubled in the last decade to $13.4 billion while total exports have increased to $53.2 billion. Transportation companies export $26 billion worth of equipment to 165 countries.
3. Since NAFTA was signed in 1994, the state has gained 281,700 jobs overall and has a lower unemployment rate.
4. Michigan is home to 1,733 automobile and auto parts companies, 26 percent of which are foreign owned.
5. The state imports $124 billion worth of goods, mostly from Canada and Mexico. This competition lowers the costs of goods for consumers and provides products for Michigan workers to sell.
6. Michigan has significantly increased its exports to Mexico (16 percent) and China (27 percent) in just the past three years.
7. The 30 percent steel tariffs imposed under the Bush administration harmed Michigan companies – the increase in cost made Michigan lose more jobs than all but three states.
Lowering trade barriers can provide new competition to businesses competing with foreign producers. But it also provides new opportunities for other local businesses, which might benefit from selling goods to new buyers in new markets. The historical evidence is overwhelming: Free trade always accompanies economic growth and prosperity, and countries that allow their people to take part are, on balance, much better off.
And Pat was spot on 100%.
Too bad he turned into such a twatwaffle,,
Sure, if you want to pin it on the guy who was only involved for 2 of the 8 years.
No, I’m just weary (as what sometimes appears to be one of the few manufacturing workers on this forum) of others claiming that they are concerned about my job, while trying their best (policy wise) to make me lose it. In order to save some amorphous manufacturing job in some mythical location somewhere else.
“No, I’m just weary (as what sometimes appears to be one of the few manufacturing workers on this forum) of others claiming that they are concerned about my job, while trying their best (policy wise) to make me lose it. In order to save some amorphous manufacturing job in some mythical location somewhere else.”
Got it.
And would Tariffs would put it (your job) in jeopardy? (via retaliation(s)?)
So here I sit, gearing-up for not voting my pocketbook for the first time ever, and listening to people who have the audacity to claim that my vote is good for my pocketbook. It pisses me off.
“So here I sit, gearing-up for not voting my pocketbook for the first time ever, and listening to people who have the audacity to claim that my vote is good for my pocketbook. It pisses me off.”
Got it.
Theory vs. reality eh?
Brave New World. I can only hope that Trump will come to his senses regarding the Ford tariff-thing. But look at the alternative candidate. Jeepers.
“I can only hope that Trump will come to his senses regarding the Ford tariff-thing.”
The best solution would be for Ford to move Focus production to NC or TN or somewhere in the US rather than Mexico.
Some one has to make the rules even on free trade, and each nation tries to make the rules benefit them so there is really no such thing as free trade.
That is why Congress has the responsibilty to lay an import and export tax.
Just as an example the Mexican farmers can grow a crop of tomatoes for less than half of what it costs an American farmer then ship it up here and sell it just below the price an American farmer would break even on.
The Mexican farmer is making money but the American farmer is breaking even at best and many going broke.
While our forests are burning down by the hundreds of acres we are importing lumber.
What feww logs we cut, many are sold to Japan and after they saw them into lumber we buy them back.
High taxes and stupid envirimental regulations are preventing the Americans from mining our much needed minerals.
I have lived wintin two miles from a power plant for the last twenty five years and there is absolutly nothing coming from the power plant except electrisity.
Trump is about much more than free trade, he is about bringing America`s industry back to America where it belongs.
Remember how it was after Ike got elected in the earky 50s? you probably don`t, a man or woman who wanted to work could wor, educated or not.
Many of the teenagers who would have been welfare punks became men instead of punks because there was work to be had and they did not qualify for hand outs.
The benifits of work and jobs are so numerous they would lighten about any sickness our society is now suffering.
I will say it again, free trade is not the issue the Issue is the survival of a once great nation, and our president`s job is to look out for America, not Iran or Japan.
Apples and turds are being compared and we’re being told that the turds are also perfectly good food.
Well, not to worry - when Hillary says something against “free trade™”, she’s lying.
So, if you support “free trade™”, you have a candidate after all.
Name a country we charge duty? Even Mexico dings us every truckload several hundred dollars to cross the border. Canada $35.00. I sell product in 120 countries and import as well. I have yet to pay duty bringing in product to US. US policy should require equal trade rules. India charges us 30% duty then they pay us 30% duty. That is free trade.
The U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule is available for your perusal online. Generally, we do not charge duties on products from countries with which we have free trade agreements (approx. 16 total). The “book” is for countries with MFN status.
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