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Topic: Is international trade good?

Cougyr
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3336

posted 13 July 2003 10:10 PM

The frustration we westerners are having with US protectionism has me wondering if international trade is necessarily good. I remember the tv ads pushing Free Trade, some years ago, stating categoricly that Canada had to have international trade. But does it?

What are the costs of that trade? If something can be manufactured or grown at home, do the transportation costs (and polution) cancel out buying cheaper foreign goods? It's nice to sell our stuff, but when foreigners can dictate terms and bankrupt our industries, is it worth it?

From: over the mountain | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

Foxer
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4251

posted 13 July 2003 10:56 PM

well in THEORY that's what 'free trade' was supposed to reduce or eliminate.

International trade is necessary. It is almost impossible not to have it and still be a first world country. Even america is impacted by international trade to a large extent.

The problem arises when people want the benefits of international trade while protecting thier own markets exclusively. I think that its a good thing to try to keep your money local, but if you want other countries to buy your stuff you gotta buy theirs too.

What we need is a much more effective dispute resolution mechanism and a much much much better diplomatic and lobby corps.

[ 13 July 2003: Message edited by: Foxer ]

From: Vancouver BC | Registered: Jul 2003 | IP: Logged

DrConway
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 490

posted 13 July 2003 11:41 PM

A thread that cropped up on the topic of trade

Another one.

An essay of mine on free trade

From: You shall not side with the great against the powerless. | Registered: May 2001 | IP: Logged

Gir Draxon
leftist-rightie and rightist-leftie
Babbler # 3804

posted 14 July 2003 04:52 AM

International trade is a great thing.

Some people think that "free trade" is the way to go. Others beleive in "fair trade".

And then there are those like me who want to have their cake and eat it too.... make international trade free and fair at the same time.

From: Arkham Asylum | Registered: Feb 2003 | IP: Logged

Cougyr
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3336

posted 14 July 2003 01:28 PM

Trade seems to have a great deal of inefficiencies built in to it. I'm one to always wonder when I see loaded logging trucks headed in opposite directions. Couldn't they each have gone to the nearest mill and save both of them time and fuel? There seem to be a lot of trucks whizzing around. Are they key to something productive; or are they just whizzing around? Would an alien observer understand what all the whizzing around is supposed to accomplish?

Or as you say in your article, when countries import and export similar goods, what's the benefit?

From: over the mountain | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

nonsuch
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 1402

posted 14 July 2003 04:56 PM

There is nothing wrong with trade. You have something i want and can't make; i have something you want and can't make: we barter; both end up happy.

The problem isn't trade; it's profit. How to move things around so that every customer and every producer pays more than the worth of what they get, and the middle-man keeps the difference. Once that element is introduced, trade becomes too complicated for any normal person to follow and abuses multiply.

To start making it more sensible, we must first meet as many of our needs as possible, then look elsewhere only for what we truly cannot produce. No, that's actually the second step. The first is to look all that we consume and decide how much of it we actually need and want.

From: coming and going | Registered: Sep 2001 | IP: Logged

Cougyr
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3336

posted 14 July 2003 08:11 PM

My father was a chemist. I remember him telling me that the contents of the Aspirin bottle cost about half a cent to produce.

From: over the mountain | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

Foxer
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4251

posted 14 July 2003 08:20 PM

Really! damn - i'm gonna figure out how to make my own!

I thought costco brand was cheap, but i'll take half a cent a bottle anyday

From: Vancouver BC | Registered: Jul 2003 | IP: Logged

DrConway
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 490

posted 14 July 2003 08:47 PM

I posted a simple procedure for making aspirin from methyl salicylate ("oil of wintergreen") somewhere on babble.

I am, after all, a chemistry student.

From: You shall not side with the great against the powerless. | Registered: May 2001 | IP: Logged

bakunin
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3991

posted 16 July 2003 04:23 AM

it seams as though we should try and reduce international(and all long distance) trade as much as possible as it is a waste of energy and large consumer of fossul fuels.

From: we may not convince you but we'll convince your children | Registered: Apr 2003 | IP: Logged

Foxer
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4251

posted 16 July 2003 04:35 AM

a valid point bakunin - better yet we should look at alternate renewable energy sources for propultion.

Doc - we'll have to have a chat about that one of these days. I love to make my own stuff, somehow it seems more 'real' in this day of processed food, processed goods and pre-packaged processed products in general.

From: Vancouver BC | Registered: Jul 2003 | IP: Logged

All times are Pacific Time

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