Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross Should Shut Up About Soup Cans, Already
If he believes this economically illiterate nonsense, he shouldn't be trusted to run the Department of Commerce. If he doesn't believe it, neither should you.
Free Trade
Trump Orders Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum. Can Congress Stop Him?
A 25 percent tariff on steel and a 10 percent tariff on aluminum will take effect in 15 days, unless GOP lawmakers take unusual steps to stop them.
U.S. Steel CEO Celebrates Tariffs That Will Help His Industry and Hurt Everyone Else
The benefits of a huge new tariff on steel will be highly concentrated in the steel industry, while the costs will be borne by other parts of the economy.
Trump's Tariffs Will Hurt America's Automobile Industry, Including Workers Who Build Cars
And the EU's response to the tariffs will whack workers who build motorcycles.
4 Bad Arguments for Trump's New Tariffs
When it comes to trade, the president believes a lot of nonsense.
Stossel: Trump's Steel Tariffs Will Hurt Americans
John Stossel says voluntary, free trade improves lives.
The Lunacy of Trump's Trade War: Podcast
Reason editors dispute presidential notion that "trade wars are good, and easy to win," and also argue over the Oscars.
Trump's Steel Tariffs Will Help, Not Hurt, China
The proposed tariffs are an exercise in ego, not economics.
Trump's Impulsive Trade War Is Lousy Economics and Worrisome Politics
President's hasty new "trade war" will damage the American economy while continuing his process of removing tariff-reduction from two-party politics.
Trump's Tariffs Will Crush the Beer Industry
And they'll make lots of other things more expensive too.
Trump Considering Huge Tariff Increase on Steel, Aluminum With Weak 'National Security' Rationale
Tariffs are an unnecessary step that will hurt American manufacturers and increase prices on a wide range of products, from cars to beer cans.
When Governments Suspend Their Own Rules
Special economic zones can be anything from tools of crony capitalism to seeds of a freer world order.
In Rare Move, U.S. International Trade Commission Rejects Ludicrous Tariffs on Canadian Jets
Meanwhile, tariffs pile up on products that lots of Americans actually buy.
Trump's 'America First' Plan Is Naked Special-Interest Policymaking
When anyone says, "I'm for free trade, but it must be fair trade," they are really saying: "I am not for free trade."
Trump's NAFTA Demands Could Crash the U.S. Auto Industry
The administration pushes harsh protectionist measures at the Montreal NAFTA talks.
Shipping Magnates and Friendly Lawmakers Air-Kiss over Loathsome Law that Torments Poor Hawaiians, Puerto Ricans
The Jones Act drives up consumer prices by protecting U.S. companies from competition. Guess who insists it must be kept intact?
There Will Be No Viking Longboats Cruising the Mississippi, Thanks to Hard-Headed U.S. Protectionism
An old federal law demolishes the development of some domestic tourism markets.
Should the U.S. Unilaterally Abolish All Tariffs And Duties? A Debate on Free Trade.
Watch Don Boudreaux vs. Rick Manning at the Soho Forum.
Trump's Deregulation Drive Stops at the Border
The International Trade Commission recommends the president impose hefty tariffs on washing machines.
How Trade Tariffs Screw Over the Little Guy (Aluminum Foil Edition)
Donald Trump's protectionist tariffs against Chinese aluminum will double the price of a very widely used product: aluminum foil.
Trump Trade Speech Undermines Beleaguered Free Trade Consensus
Free trade benefits all participants.
America's Exit May Have Improved the Trans-Pacific Partnership, but Not for America
The pact is better without American influence-but now we won't enjoy the benefits.
Tonite: Watch Debate About Free Trade with Don Boudreaux and Rick Manning
New Soho Forum debate will be streamed on Facebook Live. Viewers can ask questions, vote on winner!
Trans-Pacific Partnership Could Still Happen
Without American participation, everyone could end up worse off-particularly Americans.
Proposed Tariff on Washing Machines Is Pure Protectionism
Protectionist measures hurt American workers and consumers.
Americans Keep Setting New Records for Renouncing Citizenship, and Tax Reform Threatens to Make it Worse
The House bill fails to put an end to global income taxation and the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, though the Treasury Dept. may provide some regulatory relief on the latter
Trump Is a "Lunatic" on Free Trade, Immigration: Podcast
Reason's Nick Gillespie talks to libertarian economist Gene Epstein about Trump, free trade, and his monthly debates at the Soho Forum.
Globalization Is a Boon for Rural America
Cutting off foreign trade would hurt lots of small towns in the heartland.
GOP Anti-Flake Anti-Trumpers Just Want Trumpism Without Trump
Trump is crass and abrasive and toxic? So are the policies he adopted for a base that establishment conservatives cultivated.
Trump Proposes Awful-Sounding 'Economic Development Bill' That Might Not Actually Exist
Is it just more bluster from the White House? Let's hope so.
Libertarian Globalism Versus Economic Nationalism
What Donald Trump and his posse of economic nationalists get wrong.
U.S. Steel Manufacturers Eager for Trump to Impose Long-Promised Tariffs
Trump, tariffs and the art of the deal
Hey Trump, American Manufacturing is Doing Just Fine
Don't ruin it with protectionist trade policies.
Trump at 9 Months: 'The Least Regulatory President of All'
Significant regulations "are down an astonishing 58 percent compared to Obama," reports the Competitive Enterprise Institute.
With Bombardier Tariffs, Trump Continues His Protectionist Mania
Anti-dumping tariffs don't lead to more fairness, they just lead to more tariffs.
Two Solar Companies Got Big Subsidies From Obama. Now They Want Protective Tariffs From Trump.
A bankrupt Chinese-owned taxpayer-subsidized company that's asking for protection against Chinese imports.
Trump Waives Jones Act for Puerto Rico for 10 Days. That's Good, but It's Not Enough.
Congress needs to vote to stop protecting shipping cartel from market competition.
Federal Relief to Puerto Rico Won't Include Waiving Law That Drives up Import Costs
Administration says it will not reduce effects of the anti-free-trade Jones Act.
Hey, Congress: If You Really Want to Help Puerto Rico Recover, Dump the Jones Act
Crony law benefitting U.S. shipping companies will drive up costs, extend hurricane crisis.
No, Donald Trump, America's Trade Deal With South Korea Isn't Costing U.S. Jobs
Pulling out of the deal would hurt American workers in factories, farms, and tech centers. It would also drive up costs for consumers.
Trump's Lumber Tariffs Hurt Hurricane Recovery
Protectionism is a losing proposition, especially after a disaster.
Trump Wants to Win at Trade. He's Missing the Point.
The ultimatum game, the double thank-you, and the politics of global commerce
Peek Inside the Luxury Hotel Trump Won't Let You Stay At
Havana's stunning Gran Hotel Manzana is owned by the Cuban military, making it off-limits to Americans.
Whiplash and Backlash in the Republic of Cuba
Starvation won't turn Cubans into capitalists. Trade and tourism might.
Donald Trump's Prescription for Impoverishing America
Free trade makes everyone better off.
Contrary To Nationalist Myths, Protectionism Is an Economic Disaster
American protectionism has repeatedly failed as an economic strategy.
