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The "free trade" the US propagates is horrible for anyone not in the top 20% of society. Your manufacturing business has been decimated, many people outside coa

The "free trade" the US propagates is horrible for anyone not in the top 20% of society. Your manufacturing business has been decimated, many people outside coastal areas have been seeing declining standards of living. Even the EU has many import tariffs to protect its own industries from unfair competition from China and others. Why should someone who makes bikes in the EU compete with someone who does it for $0,50 an hour in Vietnam or who knows where? Protecting your own markets is the sensible thing to do. Any country with a decent industrial policy does it.

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mensetmanusman 7y ago
Most peaceful era per capital in human history. Lowest percentage in poverty in human history.
- low_poly_shiba 7y ago
  Where have the biggest reductions in poverty taken place?
dalbasal 7y ago
I agree. In fact, I don't think ending international trade is going far enough. Why should Californian businesses who make bikes have to compete with Texas businesses who have to pay employees lower salaries, less tax and different rules.
Nasrudith 7y ago
The why is because of relative advantage. Complaining about the 50 cent wage in a far lower cost of living country is like complaining that you cannot compete with a farmer's fields for corn with your urban rooftop gardens in plant pots. Well of course! That is where their advantages are - if you can trade without issues that is your cue to do something else more productive with your time.
Faark 7y ago
> Why should someone who makes bikes in the EU compete with someone who does it for $0,50 an hour in Vietnam or who knows where? Because this will lead to increased competition on the low cost countries labor market, increasing their wages. Long term that should equalizes wages and thus standard of living globally and everyone is happy. At least that's the overly simplified and wishful thinking. Reality is obviously a bit more complicated, but I still wouldn't want to entirely discard that concept.

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mensetmanusman 7y ago

Most peaceful era per capital in human history. Lowest percentage in poverty in human history.

low_poly_shiba 7y ago
Where have the biggest reductions in poverty taken place?

dalbasal 7y ago

I agree. In fact, I don't think ending international trade is going far enough. Why should Californian businesses who make bikes have to compete with Texas businesses who have to pay employees lower salaries, less tax and different rules.

Nasrudith 7y ago

The why is because of relative advantage. Complaining about the 50 cent wage in a far lower cost of living country is like complaining that you cannot compete with a farmer's fields for corn with your urban rooftop gardens in plant pots. Well of course! That is where their advantages are - if you can trade without issues that is your cue to do something else more productive with your time.

Faark 7y ago

> Why should someone who makes bikes in the EU compete with someone who does it for $0,50 an hour in Vietnam or who knows where? Because this will lead to increased competition on the low cost countries labor market, increasing their wages. Long term that should equalizes wages and thus standard of living globally and everyone is happy. At least that's the overly simplified and wishful thinking. Reality is obviously a bit more complicated, but I still wouldn't want to entirely discard that concept.