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0 pointsandy_ppp8y ago0 comments

Yes, the whole point of free trade means that we can buy the best mobile phones or the best computer chips or the best washing machines.

Without free markets you end up having worse products win which is bad for everyone.

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kpil8y ago· 3 in thread

A particular line of economics just looks at the money in, the product out, ignores all complications, and concludes that it's globally best for mankind if we send money on ships and get back cheap sneakers, regardless if they are made by slave workers or whatever.

It's not only the quality of the products that compete, it's living standards, health laws, worker protection, environmental protection, social welfare, healthcare, educations and human rights that compete.

If I live in a (economically) large enough country that trades with another country that fail providing reasonable levels of all of the above for their own people, mostly to the gain of some oligark or another, there is little reason to offer totally free trade.

An optimal tariff, possibly even invested back in the originating country - or even used to fund healthcare or education - is most likely globally less maximized in term of number of cheap items per dollar, but could still help stimulate both economies, maybe help the poorest, and hopefully avoiding a race to the bottom for the 99%.

[edit]... This doesn't mean that a 300% tariff on airplanes is justified between EU, US and Canada. Or maybe we in EU can fund your healthcare if you just buy from Airbus in the future...

cbhl8y ago

> It's not only the quality of the products that compete, it's living standards, health laws, worker protection, environmental protection, social welfare, healthcare, educations and human rights that compete.

Canada has single-payer ("free") health care, and plans to introduce a national carbon tax. There's a narrow socio-economic gap in school results[0].

Tell me again how the United States has better health care, environmental protection, and education?

[0] http://www.bbc.com/news/business-40708421

kpil8y ago

No, the tariffs should be pointed in the other direction. It is however probably not efficient for a smaller economical power to set up tariffs like that.

But I think the problem is more related to China, India and other upcoming "tigers".

andy_pppOP8y ago

Look I bet you in 10-20 years time workers rights and wages will have harmonised between east and west but places like Shengzen will continue to be the best place to build electronics. People claim slave wages but I think they forget how much shitter being a rural farm worker is... most of those working in these factories could go back to picking tea or rice for 14h per day but I bet they prefer the clothes factory.

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