Might as well argue that free markets and capitalism are not sacred doctrines. A little socialism works wonders for business.
#1 reason: It’s an absolute sure-fire loser at the ballot box from here on out.
Free trade is good, but it can’t be unilateral. Our competitors don’t believe in free trade; instead the negotiate “free trade” agreements that are not equal, and then they willfully violate them at that.
Free trade is great.
Across State lines.
Regulated by the Representatives from those states. In Congress, by popular election.
There’s a place like that...let me see now...oh yeah.
The formerly United States...of America.
I’m tired of “conservatives” who don’t think it matters if Boeing makes planes in America or China.
The trade may be in the interest of the two parties, but not in their nation's best interest.
Example 1: When the Rosembergs sold nuclear secrets to Russia, it was in both party's best interest, but not the U.S. best interest.
Example 2: When a company outsources to China during a time where we have high unemployment, it creates even more unemployment here. The government loses employment taxes which are not made up by current tariffs, we end up supporting unemployed Americans. And we also lose out on the income taxes and spending salaries into the American economy that would have occurred if those American employees had continued to work.
“The Chinese subsidize exports. The Chinese engage in the wholesale theft of intellectual property – theft allegedly worth a hundred billion dollars per year.”
Let’s unpack that, shall we?
“The Chinese subsidize exports.” - If the Chinese government wishes to impoverish its citizens with punitive tax rates and give away at less value the goods they produced to Americans who then get to pay less, I recommend even more of that. Impoverish the Chinese! Transfer wealth to America! Please, do more of this.
“The Chinese engage in the wholesale theft of intellectual property – theft allegedly worth a hundred billion dollars per year.” - There is no part of “theft” that is “fair trade”. I’m okay with bombing the factories that steal our intellectual property.
Were there any other arguments of note?
Free Trade is wonderful... in theory. Trouble arises when trading partners do not have similar labor rules or do not respect capitalism.
Free Trade with Canada and Great Britain works well. Those countries have similar labor laws and tax structures. (Note: similar, not identical). Based on labor laws and economic status, Free Trade with Japan should have worked— that it did not during the 1990s is a testament to Japan’s export/ import tax structure.
Free trade is always good is just too simple a doctrine to be true.
Free trade is, was and always will be a scam. Free trade can only exist between two nations that have comparable social structures and legal structures, giving a 3rd world hovel open access to your markets unfettered is not free trade, its the willful selling out of your nation.
The fact that tariffs have the same effect on price differentials between markets as do transportation costs, and can be analyzed as the equivalent of additional transportation costs, implies that a country must benefit from a policy of free trade even if it adopts the policy unilaterally, with its citizens having to go on selling their goods in countries that continue to maintain tariff barriers. For a policy of unilateral free trade is analytically equivalent on its effect to a fall in inbound transportation costs, while outbound transportation costs remain the same.
Religion of Free Trade bump for later...
The sacred doctrine among conservative lawmakers is stupid trade. That’s what we got with NAFTA, CAFTA, S Korea and Soon TPP. What we really need is smart trade.
U.S. Trade agreements between its respective partners should reflect the same parameters the respective counter party is applying to the U.S.. For example, if China is allowing only 49% ownership of US firms doing business in China, then the U.S. should allow only 49% ownership of Chinese firms doing business in the U.S.
bookmark
We need to maintain parity as to tariffs, work and environmental standards, and beyond that just compete and win.