For me, I had to revisit the topic of tariffs. Initially, I was knee-jerk hostile to tariff schedules. We should support free trade at all costs, right? That was what Milton Friedman told us, and that is what we should be fighting for. [...] I realized that Pat Buchanan and other economic nationalists had a good point about tariffs. Indeed, every nation needs to take steps to ensure that essential industries remain strong and thrive in the home country.My (personal) main argument in favor of tariffs is that, in some other countries, inhumane conditions prevail, reducing many workers to the level of serfs or even slaves.
Free Market economies should not be forced to compete with slave-based economies.
Regards,