How do you square your: "The thing most of the FR free traders forget is that free trade is pretty much a one-way street (into the U.S.)." alongside PAR35's very true:
"Just to clarify, when you say 'buy American', do you mean GMs built in Australia, and Fords built in Canada with Mexican parts. Or do you mean Toyotas built in the US with engines and transmissions built in the states?"
As Democrats made it more and more punitive for American businesses to remain in business in the US, Free Trade, as you scorn, became a practical matter.
It doesn't matter that cars using parts manufactured elsewhere are purchased here -- those purchasing dollars benefit the US Economy at all levels.
We purchase parts elsewhere for products top-finished here and sold here in the US, who buys these and in what pocket do these dollars go -- predominantly into US pockets.
Try importing a Dodge or Chevy into Japan or Korea. You wouldn't believe the red tape and added cost.
In their wildest dreams, the Dems couldn't come up with protectionist laws that match the Japanese or Koreans.
If you look at the hierarchy of any Japanese or Korean U.S. subsidiary, you'll see a certain level of management above which, it's all Japanese or Korean. Japanese car companies buy components primarily from other Japanese companies with U.S. operations.
I know it's considered "good form" on FR to love big oil and Wal-Mart and hate the Detroit Three. I try to fight that urge.