http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/freetrade/ en-us Fri, 25 Dec 2009 05:01:44 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414832/posts With the Christmas season and its promise of "Peace on earth, goodwill toward men" upon us, and protectionist sentiment stirring in Washington, it is appropriate to revisit the question of whether free trade promotes world peace. Advocates of free trade have long argued that its benefits are not merely economic. Free trade also encourages people and nations to live in peace with one another. Free trade raises the cost of war by making nations more economically interdependent. Free trade makes it more profitable for people of one nation to produce goods and services for people of another nation than to... CATO http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414832/posts#comment Fri, 25 Dec 2009 05:01:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2396727/posts <p>NAIROBI, Kenya — The EU's anti-piracy force says Somali pirates have seized a super tanker carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia to the United States.</p> FOX News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2396727/posts#comment Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:26:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2391044/posts This interview is the fifth installment of an on going series of conversations with the former Congressman and 2008 presidential candidate. It appears that the extended Idaho retirement vacation is coming to an end. Hunter and his wife Lynne were on the road, driving south through the Beehive State with the ultimate destination of their home in El Cajon, CA. Once again, we used the conference call service that allowed several of us to partake in this unique opportunity to query the man who is perhaps the most solid and consistent conservative legislator to have served our nation in modern... Somewhere in Utah http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2391044/posts#comment Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:32:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2364313/posts Free Trade: Europe just walked off with the second-biggest trade deal in history with South Korea, bringing a fresh $26 billion to both economies and extending their clout globally. It's a prize that could have been ours. Welcome to the new America, the land of the left behind. As the Obama administration dithers for the eighth straight month about three pending free-trade treaties, those dust clouds you see are Europe taking off and running with the big one — South Korea. Late Thursday, Europe completed a free-trade pact with Korea in which 99% of all tariffs will be scrapped within... IBD Editorials http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2364313/posts#comment Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:30:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-rlc/2360785/posts In 2002, President George W. Bush helped make us poorer by signing off on higher steel tariffs. In 2009, President Barack Obama helped make us poorer by signing off on higher tire tariffs. Is this supposed to be change we can believe in? Economic analysis shows that trade creates wealth. The law of comparative advantage demonstrates that when we specialize and trade, we produce more wealth using the same resources. Preventing trade means that we use more resources to produce less wealth. Mises Institute http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-rlc/2360785/posts#comment Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:43:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2349324/posts The orthodox free-trade view of most pundits holds that if Mr Obama accepts the recommendation he will fail the free-trade test. In fact, the truth is just the opposite. Not to accept the tariff recommendation would be a severe blow to open trade and globalisation as well as to America’s future economic health. Financial Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2349324/posts#comment Sun, 27 Sep 2009 12:01:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2348421/posts When it comes to free markets, Obama's message is mixed. The G-20 summit is a chance to provide some clarity. President Obama is in favor of free trade. Except when he isn't. Free trade creates jobs and lowers prices, as he freely acknowledges. But he also insists that American workers must be shielded from foreign labor practices that threaten job security. During the presidential campaign, Obama indicated that he was open to renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement, even as an advisor quietly reassured Canadian officials that he wouldn't tamper with free trade on the North American continent. Nine... Los Angeles Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2348421/posts#comment Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:26:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-rlc/2345313/posts Two weeks ago, both the administration and the Fed announced with straight faces that the recession was over and the signs of economic recovery were clear. Then last week, the president made a stunning decision that signals the administration’s determination to repeat the mistakes of the Great Depression. Much like the Smoot-Hawley Tariffs that set off a global trade war and effectively doomed us to ten more years of economic misery, Obama’s decision to enact steep tariffs on Chinese imported tires could spark a trade war with the single most important trading partner we have. Not only does China manufacture... U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, 14th District http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-rlc/2345313/posts#comment Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:57:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2342505/posts It is no secret that the President of the United States is a supporter of Big Labor. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics only 12.4% of American Workers belong to a union. Yet wherever he gets the opportunity, the President Gives unfair favorable treatment to the 12.4% at the expense of the 87.6%. Like his bailout of the UAW, I mean GM and Chrysler. Remember the Chrysler "hedge fund investors" that President Obama berated on national TV? Among these people labeled as "no goodniks" by the President were organizations such as the the Indiana State Teachers’ Retirement Fund, and... IBd/Human Events/The Lid http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2342505/posts#comment Fri, 18 Sep 2009 01:53:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2341902/posts It is safe to say that certain elements of the MSM are starting to see that our emperor has no clothes. Whenever a story like this comes out, one wonders whether Obama is just naive and inexperienced or a bald-faced liar. Which one do you think the Post chooses? Patriot Room http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2341902/posts#comment Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:18:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2338276/posts This was announced by the Obama administration last evening. President Barack Obama on Friday slapped punitive tariffs on all car and light truck tires entering the United States from China in a decision that could anger the strategically important Asian powerhouse but placate union supporters important to his health care push at home. Obama had until Sept. 17 -- next week -- to accept, reject or modify a U.S. International Trade Commission ruling that a rising tide of Chinese tires into the U.S. hurts American producers. A powerful union, United Steelworkers, blames the increase for the loss of thousands of... The Provocateur http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2338276/posts#comment Sat, 12 Sep 2009 23:28:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2312713/posts President Obama just finished a joint press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mexican President Felipe Calderone in Mexico City following three way talks. Here are some highlights. Both President Obama and PM Harper renewed their support for the Mexican government in their war with the drug cartels. President Obama called the policy "courageous". He said that there were ways to defeat the cartels while respecting human rights but also emphasized that the biggest violators of human rights are the traffickers themselves. PM Harper commented that his country needed to tighten up their visa policies because entrance into... The Provocateur http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2312713/posts#comment Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:58:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2296086/posts It’s bad enough that the Obama administration wants to penalize all Americans for their energy use through the cap-and-tax scheme that will hobble our economy and hike electricity and gas costs, but until now they only proposed to penalize us for our own energy use. With China refusing to join the West in economic suicide, who will pay for their emissions ? Commerce Secretary says that the American consumer is to blame for China’s energy-production emissions — and we’ll pay for that instead of the Chinese : Hot Air http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2296086/posts#comment Sun, 19 Jul 2009 16:24:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2294084/posts - In a bid to revive support for free trade within the U.S., the Obama administration plans to press foreign nations to increase imports of U.S. agriculture and manufacturing -- but not to push so hard as to ignite a protectionist backlash. "In order to save trade, we've got to deal more honestly with those who feel like [trade's] benefits haven't been manifested for them," U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said in an interview Tuesday. "We've got to be serious about enforcement." White House economic-policy makers argue they need to jump-start trade to fight the global recession, but they acknowledge... WSJ http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2294084/posts#comment Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:38:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2288478/posts Microsoft Windows has enjoyed a virtual monopoly on the global computer operating systems market for the last 30 years. But one Korean company has dared to challenge the software giant. TmaxSoft launched Tmax Window in an attempt to create viable competition in the OS market. More than 300 researchers have developed the system over almost five years. The company claims that Tmax Window has a high rate of compatibility with Microsoft software titles and the chairman of the company says the system is more stable and suitable for many users. Microsoft has been criticized for unfairly stifling competition by packaging... The Chosun Ilbo (Korea) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2288478/posts#comment Thu, 9 Jul 2009 00:23:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2282690/posts Colombian President Alvaro Uribe on Tuesday said President Obama is “very interested in moving ahead” with a controversial trade agreement with the South American nation. Uribe described a Monday afternoon meeting with Obama as constructive, and said the trade deal was vital to bringing prosperity to his country. “We need the free trade agreement as a sign to investors from all over the world to be much more confident in Colombia,” Uribe said in comments at the Woodrow Wilson Center. Uribe met with Obama on Monday at the White House. They discussed the trade deal, as well as the weekend... TheHill.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2282690/posts#comment Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:25:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2268808/posts The great thing about the excess buildout of fiber optic cable back during the tech boom is that it didn't degrade, and a few years later we had it all there to use when online video and broadband got big. Conversely, the tragedy of the housing boom is that the houses we built were total crap, and in five years, when the population is bigger, and more people are looking for homes, all those extra houses that we built will be deteriorating and weed infested. And many of them will have used toxic Chinese drywall. It's a big public concern... The Business Insider http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2268808/posts#comment Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:02:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2268374/posts Americas: What does Venezuela's Hugo Chavez call a nation that develops peacefully, embraces markets, promotes property rights, pursues free trade and has no use for his revolution? A target. Welcome to Peru.Last Friday and Saturday, a police confrontation at a roadblock near the northern Peruvian town of Bagua ended in violence, with some 30 dead. A major highway had been blocked off for 55 days by some 5,000 indigenous protesters in a tactic identical to that used by radicalized indigenous protesters in Bolivia in recent years. Roadblocks are basically used to starve inland cities into submission by halting shipments of... IBD Editorials http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2268374/posts#comment Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:08:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2260659/posts DAYTON, Ohio - A Florida man is sending a batch of new baseballs. A car filled with gloves, bats and catcher's gear arrived courtesy of a Columbus man. And an Illinois woman who lived through the Great Depression and has a soft spot for baseball is writing a check. Anchorage Daily News / McClatchy Commie Daily http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2260659/posts#comment Fri, 29 May 2009 16:53:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2250818/posts Most people agree that, when it comes to economic recovery, more economic activity is better than less. When companies buy and sell more goods and services, we get more jobs and growth. Yet, for some reason, this obvious fact eludes those who want to constrain America's access to overseas markets. At a time when government is spending hundreds of billions of dollars it doesn't have on doubtful "stimulus" initiatives, you've got to wonder why some politicians continue to argue against free trade agreements. After all, these pacts have a proven track record. Trade has created millions of jobs and is... The Washington Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2250818/posts#comment Thu, 14 May 2009 15:21:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2247677/posts Yesterday I happened upon a post by a fellow FReeper. In retrospect, I am sorry for responding rudely to their post - and I hope they happen upon this apology. The post was presenting their heartfelt opinion that American industry and our system itself must be allowed to come apart so that something better can replace it. It was a Rand-ian position. The system is becoming oppressive, therefore we must weaken it. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2247677/posts#comment Sat, 9 May 2009 19:47:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2242726/posts CALEXICO, Calif. — A food distribution company in Calexico is recalling candy imported from Mexico because it contains high levels of lead. King Midas Inc. said Friday it is warning stores to stop selling Hola Pop, a caramel lollipop with a salted apricot in the center. The candy also comes in other fruit flavors. FoxNews http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2242726/posts#comment Sat, 2 May 2009 15:33:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2239723/posts A four-year-old boy may hold the key to a swine flu outbreak that is threatening to become a global pandemic. Edgar Hernandez Hernandez, from La Gloria in the east Mexican state of Veracruz was diagnosed with swine flu ealier this month. The village is close to a giant industrial pig farm that locals claim is ground zero for the outbreak. The youngster's case came as more than 450 members of the community claimed they were suffering respiratory problems and symptoms similar to swine flu. They claim they are ill from contamination spread by pig waste at nearby breeding farms partly... dailymail.co.uk http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2239723/posts#comment Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:38:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2239705/posts After taking hits on product safety for everything from tainted toys to tainted milk, China wasted no time banning U.S. pork imports in the wake of the swine flu outbreak. China and a string of other countries have moved to ban pork and other meat products from some U.S. states over the past week. The trend on Tuesday drew a rebuke from U.S. officials, who are warning trading partners that such embargoes could trigger "serious trading disruptions." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health organizations insist that the strain cannot be spread by food and that properly... Fox News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2239705/posts#comment Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:13:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2235141/posts Congressional Quarterly has a short piece on team Obama's sudden revisiting of three free trade agreements that have been languishing in Congress for quite some time, all three efforts that the Bush Administration began but was unable to settle. One is a trade agreement with South Korea, the second is a Panama trade agreement and the third the Columbia Free Trade pact. It is the later that I find the most interesting and the most hopeful. I find it interesting because the Democrats have been adamantly against this agreement with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe for several years now. The Democrats... Publius' Forum http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2235141/posts#comment Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:34:14 GMT