Goofball posted the chart. Can you not see that tariffs have been below 10% since the 1940s? I don't consider the 1940s "recently".
The subject at hand is Tariffs placed on imports. Again, up until the 1970's America...from the beginning...had generally high tariffs and that certainly was a factor in America becoming an industrial powerhouse.
No, tariffs have been below 10% since the 1940s. Like I said, you need to reread your tariff history.
Free trade has decimated our manufacturing base and America is a debtor nation in all regards. It's no accident. Bad trade policy is at the root of our economic problems.
You protectionists act as if the only economic policy passed since the 40s was NAFTA. You ignore two anti-America presidents, Clinton and Obama, trying to destroy business every way they can, the dumbing down of our children in the public schools, the out of control EPA regulations shutting down manufacturing, the high corporate taxes, the movement of millions of people to the welfare and disability roles, the expansion of our debt through a bloated government, the loss of freedom, the land grabs and the high property taxes resulting rom that, high energy costs by government over-involvement in energy, the union-friendly policies of the last 70 years. Fix some of these and we can trade with anyone. Tariffs will only add to our demise forcing even more businesses to offshore to avoid their partners paying higher tariffs.
Coming from a Free Traitor™ I will take that as a compliment.