1. We don’t have free trade with China.
then why even argue free trade principles when it comes to exporting to China?
2. You appear to be objecting that we are shipping stuff to China.
Nope. They can have all the alfalfa they can afford - at a hugh premium, called tarriff-added = which won’t affect local prices since it will be the gubment collecting it. Now if they want brocolli...
In the midwest last year, alfalfa prices doubled (blamed on the drought but hey, maybe it was China demand). What small farm is not going to be hurt with feed costs doubling in one year?
http://brownfieldagnews.com/2013/05/03/alfalfa-hay-prices-up-substantially-in-the-midwest/
and what happened at the local grocery store in response? Well let me ask, seen any 99cent/lb USA ground beef lately????.
So how is that free-trade working for us, exactly, when it’s not free trade? And how’s the associated tarriff-free policy working out for to our benefit (which is what capitalism is all about, right, our benefit)? Not so well. And yet we argue for continuing to apply free-trade principles anyway and expect things to sort itself out somehow? Mkay. Let me ponder that while I bite into the steak that just cost me $7/lb.