My but you have such high minded economic thoughts and principles that’s I’m sure you must pass on to your students. Oh what wisdom!
But with the fatal flaw that you provide no context. But I will provide the context: which is that we are running an 850 billlion dollar trade deficit. It is national suicide to make that trade deficit even larger and your crack pot free trade theories have provided the foundation for the one we have
Free trade (more precisely less restrictive trade policies) is not a crack pot idea. The vast majority of economists think that policies that encourage more trade are preferred. Trade involves voluntary transactions. Both parties benefit; otherwise no trade would occur.
Tariffs and other restrictive trade practices will only raise prices here. The trade deficit has been growing for many years. However, we have had incredible amounts of economic growth during the same period. Along with strong economic growth, millions of high paying jobs have been created through the 80s, 90s, and now 2000s.
The American worker needs lower government spending, less regulation, lower taxes, and fewer restrictions on energy exploration and development. Taxes, regulation, and energy development restrictions will price the American worker out of the world economy. Entitlement spending at the federal level and runaway pensions at the state and local level threaten to undermine our economy. The trade deficit does not threaten our future economy. Government policies are making our economy less competitive.