let us recall that the British switch to "free trade" exemplified by the repeal of the "Corn Laws" was a recognition that with so-called "free trade" British industrial capital could outcompete ANY other national capital (with a little help in India by the occupying military cutting off the fingers of the handloom weavers) ---- The up and coming countries, Germany, the US (later Japan) used protectiionism to advance their own industrial development but as soon as THEY felt they were "competitive" the "suddenly" becacme free traders ---
In other words, despite all the ridiculous theorizing by David Ricardo and later Milton Friedman, et al, the actual PRACTICAL case for "free trade" was ---- can we penetrate markets with our exports. Even so-called "free market Ronnie" (as in Reagan) made some highly protectionist moves to protect the auto industry fromJapanese competition. In other words, forget the theorizing --- the policy has ALWAYS been export promotion --- On Mon, Nov 25, 2024 at 2:46 PM Charlie via groups.io <charles1848= [email protected]> wrote: > 'why now at this moment the bourgeoisie have flipped from "free trade" to > "tariffs"?' > > As Mark noted, the U.S. capitalist class has always been divided over free > trade. The question is, why has support for protectionist measures > increased over the last eight to ten years? > > > > > -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#33736): https://groups.io/g/marxmail/message/33736 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/109762258/21656 -=-=- POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. #4 Do not exceed five posts a day. -=-=- Group Owner: [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://groups.io/g/marxmail/leave/13617172/21656/1316126222/xyzzy [[email protected]] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
