Why politics is driving a new wave of protectionism: Don Pittis

February 23, 2018

Economics likes to claim free trade is bias-free and rational. It's actually about politics and interests.

You've likely heard the concern that Twitter and Facebook have divided the world into separate camps because many of us unfollow the social media voices that disagree with us.

I thought of that as I flipped through my old-tech newspaper yesterday morning, reading several pieces about Canada's own domestic trade dispute, vainly looking to see if any of the commentary would take the view that the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion should not proceed.

Perhaps the unanimity meant there was only a single rational point of view.

More likely it was just another reminder that trade issues, or those arguments couched as trade issues, are actually about politics and interests.

This was excerpted from the 22 February 2018 edition of CBC News.

Topic(s)

International Trade and Border Management

Information source

Canadian News Channel

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