Tariff Explanation

DR’s analysis of the effect of “one-way free trade” is accurate. I’m curious about the intent and agenda of its supporters: Do they approve of it because of that effect? Were it to function otherwise, would they distance themselves from it?

Kids of my generation were taught in school that tariffs are important for nurturing “infant industries.” Supposedly, that was Hamilton’s argument for them. Jane Jacobs, in her book “Cities and the Wealth of Nations,” makes essentially the same argument, specifically to improve the economies of “backward cities.” But how are tariffs mainly employed today: to protect MATURE industries that are threatened by innovation and population trends. Something’s rotten in Denmark, no?

The whole subject of tariff policy in the 21st Century needs a fresh look. I rather suspect we’d find that many politicians engaged with the subject are less than candid about the reasons for their positions on it. I’ll be writing about this myself.