Governments institute protectionist policies in order to promote fair trade. These policies are designed to discourage imports through tariffs, quotas, and other trade barriers, to prevent foreign takeover of domestic industries and markets. The intention is to protect domestic businesses, thereby aiding the domestic economy. Which sounds like a good thing. However, the United States uses its formidable economic power to implement these policies directly hurting foreign economies and indirectly hurting its citizens.
Traditionally, trade is defined as the voluntary exchange of goods or services. This leads to the question: What is fair trade? In 1822, Sen. John Taylor wrote that it is the “free will which constitutes fair exchange.”
Consumers do not voluntarily pay higher prices, but through protectionist policies, governments force them to pay more. Trade barriers give politicians control of the market and allow them to determine where their constituents spend their money. This bastardizes the laws of property rights and impedes liberty. Trade barriers allow the government to take from consumers for the benefit of producers. Fair trade assumes consumers rights are an injustice to the producer. Through protectionist policies, a government forces consumers to support a company that cannot stand on its own. Protectionism is based on the idea that a government will become richer if its citizens are forced to pay higher prices for fewer goods. Every government restriction forces resources to be allocated away from efficient industries. Protectionist policies are harmful to consumers and the economy.
a. Success of countries without CVDs (or free countries) based on Heritage Foundation’s Index of Economic Freedom compared with the country’s per capita GDP. http://www.heritage.org/index/
b. Look at U.S.’s decline on the list and increase of economic troubles.
VII. Ethics
a. Despite the ineffectiveness of protectionism, some argue it is ethical because it protects the jobs of some citizens.
b. Protectionism is unethical because it
i. violates individual rights ii. interferes with the ability to freely
Protectionism is the theory or practice of shielding a country's domestic industries from foreign competition by taxing imports. Between 2000 and 2008 the value of world trade in goods and services rose by 12% a year. However since the global recession in 2008 the value of world trade in goods and services has substantially decreased.
When people in America see foreign goods for outrageous prices and then they see American goods for normal prices, they are going to buy American products. Unfortunately, this is not the only effect of a protectionist policy. Foreign nations often get upset at the increase in American tariffs and respond by increasing their own tariffs on American goods. This weakens the sales of American goods to foreign nations. In order for the United States to have a favorable balance of trade, then they must have strong exports.
Free trade is a policy that lifts all trade tariffs and barriers and thus encouraging the free movement of goods (imports and exports) between nations. Agreements to free trade establish free markets where countries can engage in trade in a free and conducive environment. This type of trade is made possible by free trade agreements made between countries. According to the International Trade Administration, these agreements help minimize barriers to exports form the US, protect their interests as well as enhance the rule of law in member countries. NAFTA is one of such agreements.
...ystem primarily responsible for promoting global competition. Free trade also promotes shifts in production so as to fit the “comparative advantage” model. Though free trade is widely practiced concerns with how to regulate free trade, something supposedly unregulated, countries have to subject themselves to the controversial institutions of the IMF and WTO. Fair trade policies while potentially creating smaller markets support workers’ rights in both the U.S. and developing nations. Though the pros and cons of globalization continue to be debated the United States can no longer escape its role in the global economy nor can it impose policies that are detrimental to the United States founding ideals. However policies that play towards the advantages of both free and fair trade could stimulate a healthy domestic economy that is also competitive in the global market.
In 1776, even as Adam Smith was championing the ideals of a free market economy, he recognized that the interests of national security far outweighed the principles of free trade. More then two centuries later, that sentiment proves to still be accurate and in use. Since the early 1900s, the United States has used this precept to defend its position on trade barriers to hostile nations, and through the majority of the century, that predominantly referred to the Soviet Union and its allies.
...first through a war on drugs, and then a tacit protection of oil interests during Gulf War 1 and veiled protection of US petroleum interests in Gulf War 2. Implicit in public support for both of these wars was the desire to secure continued economic power to protect American interests of an inexpensive (at least monetarily) and high quality of living through control of oil reserves and the acknowledgment that the fates of multinational corporations are directly tied to capitalist American hegemony. The enduring global free trade and protection of American global market security enforcement is a result of efforts by multinational corporations to meet the demands of Americans for cheep products, the needs of industry for cheep supplies. These efforts have lead to free trade conditions that maximize outcomes for industry leaders while satiating the American public.
With so much focus on the positive elements of free trade, the negative aspects of an open system are often overlooked. However, they do exist, and protectionism is needed. Consequently, safeguards are built into the system. States look out for their own good, whether that is through the use of escape clauses or the choice of the optimal forum for dispute settlement based on the precedent they do or do not want set. This paper argues that protectionism is valuable and inherent in the current system; however, not enough. Powerful states exploit weaker states, and “free trade” exacerbates the problem. I will first discuss why free trade does not work. Then, I will explain how the current system enables the inherent protectionist attitude of states. Finally, I will analyze the fairness of the system.
Roberts, Russell. (2006). The Choice: A Fable of Free Trade and Protectionism. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
...es currently does possess an enormous trade deficit, but the importance of this problem and the best means of solving it is a sharply debated issue. Clearly, while a return to protectionist policy would have some positive effects in the short run, it ultimately would undue the enormous growth that free international trade has caused for the US economy. The more moderate approach, of increasing domestic capital, reducing reliance upon foreign money and goods, and reducing government spending, deals with the situation much more effectively. A deficit is often times natural, especially in a wealthy country with a very strong economy, such as the US. Using these techniques, the negative aspects of the deficit can be overcome, while still ensuring the efficiency and affectivity of a liberal international trade system.
And even though the tariff barriers have been reduced significantly, but the other barriers still exist. The developing nations have argued that the protectionist trading policies of developed nations is being an obstacle against the industrialization of many developing nations. Accordingly, developing nations have sought a new international. trading system with improved access to the market of developed nations. Some of the problems that the developing nations faced have been unstable export markets. Deterioration of terms of trade, and limited access to the market of developed.
Free trade is a form of economic policy which allows countries to import and export goods among each other with no government interference. In recent years there has been a general consensus in economist’s stance on free trade. They view free trade as an asset. Free trade allows for an abundance of goods with increased varieties and increased availability. The products become cheaper for consumers and no one company monopolizes an industry. The system of free trade has been highly controversial. While free trade benefits consumers it has the potential to hurt manufacturers and businesses thus creating a debate between supporters of free trade and those with antagonistic positions.
Free trade in today’s economy allows so much more than just jobs and goods at lower prices for Americans. Compared to the foreign competition, the free trade benefits outweigh any risks the foreign competition might impose on the US. As said by Denise Froning in her article, free trade benefits in four ways. “Free trade promotes innovation and competition, Free trade generates economic growth, Free trade disseminates democratic values, and Free trade fosters economic freedom.” Societies that enact free trade policies create their own economic enthusiasm, nurturing freedom, job opportunities, and success that benefit every citizen. Free trade is the only type of fair trade because it offers consumers the most choices and best standards to improving their type of living. Also by fostering opportunitie...
Free trade can be defined as the free access to the market by individuals without any restriction or any trade barriers that can obstruct the trade process such as taxes, tariffs and import quotas. Free trade in its own way unites and brings people together. Most individuals love the concept of free trade because it gives them the ability to move freely and interact with the market. The whole idea of free trade is that it lowers the price of goods and services by promoting competition. Domestic producers will no longer be able to rely on government law and other forms of assistance, including quotas, which essentially force citizens to buy from them.
Political arguments for trade intervention are mainly concerned with protecting the interests of certain groups at the expense of other groups. Most of the time domestic firms benefit from this, while customers suffer the consequences.
...y supply and this causes the collapse in the U.S. and elsewhere (Pinnell, Lecture notes, 3/23). Consequently, countries become very protectionist to protect firms at home and international trade collapses (Pinnell, Lecture notes, 3/23). Therefore, states must make decisions with reciprocity and consequences in mind (Pinnell, Lecture notes, 3/23).