|
More efficient industries, in a correctly functioning economy, will lead to lower prices for consumers, higher wages in those more efficient industries and greater prosperity for all.
So, what benefits industry and productivity(but not cronies!) is very much in the best interests of the citizenry and country as a whole. After all, don't we all want to be more prosperous?
Free Trade in general leads to greater productivity, and better goods and services being available to individuals. Trying to "protect" your industry often just ends out coddling it, and maintaining their worst impulses. Rather then improve themselves, industries will instead try to lobby the government to put up more trade barriers, to their own benefit but the collective loss of society as a whole.
After all, how would you feel if you wanted to buy a clean reliable Toyota, but because of tariffs it's too expensive for you. Instead you end out buying a rickety error prone Chevy and look on in envy at Japan and their slick cars that for mysterious reasons (IE tariffs) you just can't afford.
If anything, protectionist policies favor the plutocratic elite, not normal workers.
However, like others I don't believe "Free Trade" goes as far as to make it easier for companies to move their production off shore and evade taxes. Likewise, there's no problem with using positive "enticements" to encourage companies to open up new factories. But it shouldn't be preferential, Japanese companies should be just as able to avail of such opportunities as American companies.
|