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99 sats \ 5 replies \ @freetx 20 Jul \ parent \ on: Let's talk tariffs and (U.S.) domestic commodities econ
Within the pantheon of taxes, I believe that tariffs are less evil then income, wealth, or property taxes.
From a historical perspective, its clear the framers of the constitution considered excise taxes to be the main form of allowed taxation. Excise taxes, of course, are avoidable. If tea is taxed at 50%, you have the option of not buying tea....whereas if I tax your income at 50% (or your property) you have no practical way of avoiding that tax.
Moreover, I know its good to point out the concept of "free trade" and how tariffs undermine the efficiency of the markets. In theory that is a very good point and also philosophically (and morally) sound.
However, the world is more messy than just that simple analysis: What if your trading partner is using slave labor? Is that free trade?
I have noticed that more people have embraced free trade since the rise and electoral success of Trump out of spite
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That's only rhetorical support. It's not worth the paper it's not printed on.
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You're right that this gets very messy when you take the actual conditions of our trade partners into account. That's why I'm not as animated about trade as many other libertarians, compared to how much I hate income or property taxes.
What might be worse than the generic inefficiencies of restricting trade, is the way trade policy is used to benefit certain industries and corporations. That is a major corrupting influence in our economy and government, so it would probably be better if they didn't have the option.
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Why does WTO exist?
USA should leave WTO and establish free trade/low tariff zones or agreements
EU was originally founded as Economic Union, a Common Market, zero or low tariffs between member nations post WW2
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USA was pretty much founded as an internal free trade zone, too.
I agree. America is a huge market that everyone wants access to. There's very little to gain from being in these organizations, other than special favors for politically connected groups.
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