Trade Policy – A Key Decision
As we wrapped up the last week of the Winter Term in the principles classes, our attention turned to trade policy. I admitted to my students that I’m a “free trade guy,” and I invited them to make up their own minds about free versus protectionist trade.
Today’s lead editorial in the New York Times calls for the President to be more clear and supportive of free trade initiatives, for, as the editorial board wrote,
Trade will play an important role in the world’s eventual recovery, transmitting economic growth from one country to the next. Protectionism leads to further protectionism, and yielding to its temptation could unleash destructive trade wars that would crush any chance of recovery.
I agree, and I worry a bit about the lukewarm messages coming from the Obama administration and the Democrats in Congress on this issue.
Think through this issue for yourself. It is important.
I teach principles of economics courses and a course in the economics of healthcare at Southern Oregon University.
