http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/protectionism/ en-us Sun, 12 Oct 2008 22:58:50 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2104052/posts Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson cautioned on Sunday that countries that turn to protectionist policies to try to escape damage from the global financial crisis may make it worse. "Isolationism and protectionism will not offer a way out," Paulson said in a statement prepared for delivery to the World Bank's development committee. Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2104052/posts#comment Sun, 12 Oct 2008 22:58:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2053253/posts A moratorium on the opening of new fast food restaurants in one of the poorest areas of Los Angeles moved one step closer to reality on Tuesday in a measure aimed at countering obesity.A Los Angeles city council planning committee unanimously approved a one-year ban, which could be extended for a further year, on new fast food outlets in a 32-square-mile (82-sq-km) area of Los Angeles. Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2053253/posts#comment Tue, 29 Jul 2008 19:03:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2051879/posts ...He starts with a real advantage. Although unemployment remains low and the economy continues to grow, voters are worried. A bank has failed, the financial news channels pump out dark tales of foreclosures and write-offs, petrol prices are crushingly high, and food prices are soaring. Most Americans say the economy is the most important issue in this election, and three out of four think we are in recession. ... Unfortunately, this is a particularly bad time for America to start a trade war. Exports are booming. In states such as Ohio one out of every four manufacturing jobs is devoted... Times Online http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2051879/posts#comment Sat, 26 Jul 2008 23:50:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2014794/posts As immigrants, we're proud of America and the strength it derives from being uniquely open to trade, to investment, and to ideas and people. Recently, prominent voices in punditry and politics have questioned the benefits of America's openness and called for an isolationist U-turn that would choke off our innovation and prosperity. In every state of the union, such a retreat would be disastrous for jobs, economic growth and consumer choice. Nowhere is this more clear than here in Torrance, Calif., where today we are visiting a Hitachi plant that remanufactures auto parts. This "foreign" company employs 16,000 Americans --... WSJ http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2014794/posts#comment Mon, 12 May 2008 14:51:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1999987/posts It was annouced The Canadian government rejected the C$1.33 billion ($1.31 billion) sale of MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Ltd.'s satellite business to Alliant Techsystems Inc., ``I don't think as a general term investors will look at this and say all of a sudden Canada is not open to foreign investment,'' because a similar acquisition in other countries would also face a stringent review, Bradley said. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1999987/posts#comment Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:22:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1991670/posts The United States is experiencing one of its periodic fits of isolationism. In the age before missiles and satellites, we often felt that two oceans protected us from warring states in Asia and Europe. In addition, for over a century our own frontier kept us busy enough. Both the Founding Fathers and waves of immigrants warned us against getting too involved with the aristocratic prejudices and age-old feuds of the Old World. After the Civil War, the federal government turned our army into a tiny constabulary. The nation industrialized, and didn’t much worry about the rising tensions between European colonial... The American http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1991670/posts#comment Wed, 26 Mar 2008 04:39:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1980357/posts Fair Weather Free Trader Barack Obama's protectionism. by Matthew Continetti 03/10/2008, Volume 013, Issue 25 A few weeks back, the Washington Post wrote that Democratic frontrunner Barack Obama is running on a "platform of hope and change." Which is true enough--if by "hope and change" the Post actually means "despair and a change for the worse." That is certainly the case, anyway, when it comes to Obama's recent arguments against the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and free trade more generally. Campaigning in Wisconsin, Ohio, and Texas, Obama touted his opposition to NAFTA and pledged to "renegotiate" the 1993... The Weekly Standard http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1980357/posts#comment Tue, 4 Mar 2008 20:44:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1975989/posts TARRYTOWN, NY—Representative Duncan L. Hunter was presented the Hand Tools Institute American Manufacturing Champion award by representatives of the Hand Tools Institute (HTI), a trade association of American hand tool manufacturers. This award is intended to recognize legislators that demonstrate strong support for manufacturing. Representative Hunter is the first recipient of this award. Scott Meyer, president emeritus of HTI presented the award to Congressman Hunter in his offices in Washington, DC. During the presentation, Mr. Myer said, “The board of directors of the Hand Tools Institute voted unanimously to present this award to you, Congressman Hunter, in recognition of your... Quality Mag http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1975989/posts#comment Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:20:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1975786/posts (AP Photo ) Former President Proves Liability as Well as Asset in Hillary Clinton's Campaign Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., has been trying to chip away at Sen. Hillary Clinton's lead in Ohio primary polls by attacking the North American Free Trade Agreement, one of former President Clinton's major legacies — which unions in Ohio say has cost them jobs. "She has essentially presented herself as co-president during the Clinton years," Obama told supporters in Loraine, Ohio. "The notion that you can selectively pick what you take credit for and then run away from what isn't politically convenient doesn't make sense."... ABC News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1975786/posts#comment Mon, 25 Feb 2008 07:46:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1965571/posts DES MOINES, Iowa - A state lawmaker who served in Iraq wants to ban U.S. or Iowa flags that are made in other countries. Rep. Ray Zirkelbach, D-Monticello, said he would introduce a bill that would prohibit the sale of foreign-made flags in Iowa. "I personally don't want my coffin draped in a Chinese-made flag when I pass away," Zirkelbach said. Under the proposal, business owners an operators could face fines of up to $625 if they sell a flag made in another country. They also could face up to 30 days in jail. The measure also would apply to... The Quad City Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1965571/posts#comment Wed, 6 Feb 2008 01:09:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1942375/posts Bloomberg.com material may not be posted due to copyright complaint.http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news Bloomberg http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1942375/posts#comment Thu, 20 Dec 2007 18:26:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1940137/posts <p>U.S. sugar policy stands for all that's bad about our political system. The government restricts imports through a series of quotas, pushing U.S. sugar prices to between two and three times the global market rate. As a result, a handful of sugar producers, notably in Florida, a battleground electoral state, pocket $1 billion a year in excess profits. To protect this cozy arrangement, the sugar barons plow a chunk of their revenue back into the political system. During the 2004 election cycle, two Florida sugar companies gave a total of $925,000 to election coffers.</p> Washington Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1940137/posts#comment Sun, 16 Dec 2007 03:16:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1932592/posts Pat Buchanan's recent attempt to diagnose the sinking dollar demonstrates that ignorance of basic economics is not limited to the Left. Buchanan points out the plummeting value of the dollar relative to other currencies and major commodities such as gold (up 24% this year) and oil (up over 50% in 12 months). He then declares that "the prime suspect in the death of the dollar is the massive trade deficits America has run up" to "maintain her standard of living and to sustain the American Imperium." This diagnosis offers a tantalizing glimpse of the truth, yet shatters it with protectionist... Ludwig von Mises Institute http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1932592/posts#comment Fri, 30 Nov 2007 03:11:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1930009/posts The die is now cast. As the euro brushes $1.50 against the dollar, it is already too late to stop the eurozone hurtling into a full-fledged economic and political crisis. We now have to start asking whether the EU itself will survive in its current form. It takes eighteen months or so for the full effects of currency changes to feed through, so the damage will snowball late next year and beyond into 2009. Although "damage" is a relative term. As Airbus chief Thomas Enders warned in a speech to the Hamburg workers last night, Europe's champion plane-maker - the... Daily Telegraph http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1930009/posts#comment Sat, 24 Nov 2007 19:26:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1923464/posts Lions and Tigers and Trade, Oh My! by: Bethany Stotts, November 09, 2007 American antipathy toward trade has been growing rapidly as American citizens increasingly fear that globalization (and outsourcing) will undermine their job security. However, world-renowned economist Jagdish Bhagwati argues that the current free-trade phobia is unjustified. “But you know, there is no accounting for fear... I would also add that fear has deaf ears, because once you’re really frightened you don’t listen to [experts],” asserted Bhagwati at a CATO book forum. Most studies point to the negligible negative effect that trade with underdeveloped countries has had on their... Campus Report http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1923464/posts#comment Fri, 9 Nov 2007 19:02:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1921166/posts The Smoot-Hawley Tariff of 1930 significantly raised import restrictions, reduced trade and prosperity, provoked protectionist retaliation by foreign governments, and damaged the spirit of peace, cooperation, and goodwill. Econ Journal Watch http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1921166/posts#comment Mon, 5 Nov 2007 15:48:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1910744/posts Bush: Protectionism will cost U.S. jobs By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 10 minutes ago WASHINGTON - Alarmed by slipping support for free trade even among Republicans, President Bush is arguing that protectionism will cut Americans out of chances for more — and better — jobs. Bush has launched a blitz on behalf of pending free trade pacts with four nations. He continued the push Saturday in his weekly radio address. "More exports support better and higher-paying jobs," the president said. "And to keep our economy expanding, we need to keep expanding trade." His radio address followed a... Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1910744/posts#comment Sat, 13 Oct 2007 15:28:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1908639/posts The case for free trade rests on a simple principle: people should be free to buy from whomever they choose, even if the supplier is a foreigner. The opponents of free trade believe that there are legitimate exceptions to this principle. When foreign businesses have an allegedly "unfair" advantage, Americans competing against them want Uncle Sam to rescue them by adopting protectionist policies, such as import quotas and tariffs. They want the government to "level the playing field." They fear losing their jobs, and/or they are afraid that free trade will result in the economic decline of our country. The... SeaCoastOnline http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1908639/posts#comment Tue, 9 Oct 2007 14:06:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1904123/posts China bids for firm that makes "intrusion prevention" technology for the Department of Defense. THE CHINESE ANNOUNCED on Saturday that they would be buying into the company that provides the Pentagon with technology to prevent cyber-attacks--of the sort the Chinese launched a few weeks ago. Why worry? We are all free traders now, according the president and his secretary of the Treasury--all except misguided Democrats, trade unions, displaced workers, and those who worry about our national security. True, free trade is great--when dealing with other parties who are in it for the same thing--to make money. But that ain't the... The Weekly Standard http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1904123/posts#comment Sat, 29 Sep 2007 16:47:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1901347/posts ...[The building of the Trans-Texas Corridor] is all too sinister for Jerome Corsi, the Vietnam War veteran who helped lead the Swift Boat charge against John Kerry. Corsi has knitted disparate strands of each of these separate road projects to help convince fellow xenophobes such as Pat Buchanan, Phyllis Schlafly, Lou Dobbs and the John Birch Society that the corridor is the first leg of a secret federal project called the NAFTA Superhighway, a four-football-field wide monstrosity that would run from Mexico's Yucatan to Canada's Yukon... Yet even Texas Rep. Ron Paul, a libertarian Republican candidate for president, has fallen... Reason Magazine ("libertarians") http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1901347/posts#comment Mon, 24 Sep 2007 14:30:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1888141/posts BILOXI, Mississippi (Reuters) - Officials from the Federal Reserve on Saturday warned of dangers from a rising tide of trade disputes and the harmful impact on what one otherwise termed a "resilient" United States economy. Three regional Fed presidents steered clear of current economic or monetary policy topics at a panel discussion on the southern U.S. economy at the Southern Governors' Association conference. The presidents of the St. Louis, Dallas and Atlanta Feds, respectively, mostly focused on the dangers of protectionism and the need for an educated and flexible work force to cope with rising foreign competition. The governors convened... Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1888141/posts#comment Wed, 29 Aug 2007 08:25:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1886956/posts <p>PARIS -- French libraries are said to file their nation's constitutions -- there have been more than a dozen since 1789; the current one is a relatively ancient 49 years old -- under periodicals. Now Nicolas Sarkozy, France's peripatetic new president, has created a commission on constitutional reform. The commission includes Jack Lang who, as minister of culture in 1983 under President Francois Mitterrand, staged a sublimely unserious conference on the (supposed) world economic crisis, featuring the likes of Sophia Loren, Susan Sontag and Norman Mailer.</p> Townhall.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1886956/posts#comment Mon, 27 Aug 2007 00:12:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1852764/posts A New Deal for Globalization By Kenneth F. Scheve and Matthew J. Slaughter From Foreign Affairs, July/August 2007 WAGES FALLING, PROTECTIONISM RISING Over the last several years, a striking new feature of the U.S. economy has emerged: real income growth has been extremely skewed, with relatively few high earners doing well while incomes for most workers have stagnated or, in many cases, fallen. Just what mix of forces is behind this trend is not yet clear, but regardless, the numbers are stark. Less than four percent of workers were in educational groups that enjoyed increases in mean real money earnings... Foreign Affairs http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1852764/posts#comment Tue, 19 Jun 2007 15:11:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1832326/posts The results of the 2007 edition of IMD’s World Competitiveness Yearbook highlight a big shake-up in economic and business power. Emerging nations are quickly catching up in competitiveness. New companies and new brands are appearing all over the world. They now contest the long-standing competitive supremacy of industrialized nations. “This could lead to an increase in protectionist measures in Europe and the US”, says Professor Stéphane Garelli, Director of IMD’s World Competitiveness Center. Of the 55 economies ranked by IMD, the US still ranks No. 1 in 2007, closely followed by Singapore and Hong Kong. However, 40 economies are now... International Institute for Management Development http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1832326/posts#comment Sat, 12 May 2007 02:12:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1827060/posts The advocates of free trade have on their side over 200 years of settled science in economics, going all the way back to Adam Smith. The advocates of protectionism have Lou Dobbs. With his nightly harangues on CNN and through his books, Lou Dobbs has become the public face of today’s dangerous movement toward economic isolationism. That movement has become all the more dangerous since the Democratic party took control of Congress. Beholden to Big Labor, the Democrats have no choice but to cater to that powerful lobby’s fears of a dynamic globalized American economy. Last month, when Dobbs testified... National Review Online http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1827060/posts#comment Wed, 2 May 2007 12:20:29 GMT