Trade: How Free is Too Free? History of US Trade Policy with Douglas Irwin - China Talk

Trade: How Free is Too Free? 

250 years of US trade policy

JORDAN SCHNEIDER, TEDDY KIM, AND LILY OTTINGER

CHINA TALK, FEB 3

As Trump throws 10% tariffs on China and 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, it’s worth reflecting back on the long scope of America and trade.

Back in 2019, back when this humble substack was still called ChinaEconTalk, we interviewed the dean of US trade history Doug Irwinabout his magisterial Clashing over Commerce: A History of US Trade Policy. 

In this interview, we discuss:

·       A historical tour through 250 years of American trade policy;

·       Parallels throughout US trade history to recent policy;

·       The evolution of GATT and the WTO;

·       Whether tariffs now are likely to have the intended effect;

·       The three R’s of tariffs: revenue, restriction, and reciprocity.

Read here: 

https://www.academia.edu/127442137/Trade_How_Free_is_Too_Free_250_years_of_US_trade_policy_Doug_Irwin_ChinaTalk_