[Sam Gamgee]

I did not know all that. Great point. If America really was the great mercantalist oppressor that Britain was it would be interested only in securing markets for itself and forcing other nations to buy its goods while refusing markets for theirs. In fact we have done the exact opposite - giving unfair advantages to our adversaries (China) and importing oil from those that work against our interests (the Saudis).

[Reily]

Actually after about the 1840s GB was a huge free trading nation. Lowered its tariiffs, the very opposite of its economic behavior in the 18th century.