The population associates free trade and globalization with rising inequality, because both have occurred together in the UK and US but its not free trade that caused this in fact, free trade has helped many of the poor - think how cheap it is to clothe a family due to imports. Unfortunately, it is easier to sell protectionism to an electorate.
All the more reason why the “GOP Presidential field need to provide public leadership on this issue”.
Here is my view. I think we need to make our trade laws for lack a better word mirror image laws, e.g. Canada requires that products sold there or at least the did, be 51% made in Canada. We should require Canadian products sold in the US to be 51% made here, then they change their law ours would change also, something similar for all other countries. I think I would probably go as far as building plants to build radios, TV's and computers for export to test other countries trade laws.
Ron K, I agree with you. I see the disatisfaction as being one of seeing other nations not giving us the same treatment we give them. In other words, the "free trade" is pretty much a one way street. That's tolerable for a period as an underdeveloped country gets started, but when you have the protectionist practices of China (due largely to its communist philosophy, I think) and Japan, then there's a real feeling of being taken advantage of.
I'd like to enact mirror laws on immigration as well - and _then_ listen to Mexico howl!!
Thank you for finally explaining that so well. This is just one more reminder that the only real way to keep our economy strong is not by raising taxes, but by keeping taxes low, fair and simple. I've been looking for a way to take action and contact our legislators and sign petitions and found some good policy the U.S. Chamber of Commerce backs (here). I don't have a lot of money or time, but I figure this will help other people do good.
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