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 first concern is valid; the second is not.

In this article, I will address the economics, ethics, and politics of the first concern—that of specific American jobs being lost to foreign competitors. A follow-up article will address the larger issue of whether free trade is bad for America.  Full Item