[willyd]

Capitalism is an economic theory which stresses that control of the means of producing economic goods in a society should reside in the hands of those who invest the capital for production. Private ownership and free enterprise is supposed to lead to more efficiency, lower prices, better products. Adam Smith popularized this theory in his 1776 book The Wealth of Nations.

Second website on google...

China is Communist, so they have an interest in limiting free trade. They are also going through an industrial revolution that is fueled by their manufacturing boom. They have a billion people whose average income and standard of living has been dramatically increased in recent years through technological advances and world demand for their consumer goods. Even China is starting to open their markets up to US Retailers. This is the first time that they have had a population that expressed a strong demand for the goods they produce domestically and they are reaching out to US developers and retailers in order meet the increased demand.

Anti-trust laws are the opposite of tariffs. They protect free trade and competition while tariffs discourage competition. If you are China and have a system where the government owns the businesses, you don't want free trade because you lose money. China's individual consumers are still hurt by their government's protectionist strategy though.

Free trade has provided this country with one of the highest standards of living in the world despite the best efforts of the unions and the minimum wage crowd. It has provided you with the myriad of options that you have in your every day life.

[neutrino]

Free trade has provided this country with one of the highest standards of living in the world despite the best efforts of the unions and the minimum wage crowd.

No - protected industry is what did that. We're now squandering the national wealth we accumulated during the period when we protected our industry.