Colombia Doesn't Need a Free-trade Agreement to Get Rid of its Self-destructive Tariffs - The Ayn Rand Center for Individual Rights

Colombia Doesn't Need a Free-trade Agreement to Get Rid of its Self-destructive Tariffs
By David Holcberg (International Herald Tribune, April 19, 2008)

Colombia doesn't need a free-trade agreement with the United States to get rid of its self-destructive tariffs on products imported from America.

It is in the self-interest of Colombians, as it is in the self-interest of any people, for their government to eliminate all tariffs on imported products.

Such tariffs raise the price of imported products and rob buyers of the savings they would have pocketed if trade were free.

Moreover, governments have no moral right to force their citizens to pay tariffs for foreign products they want to buy. Any government that respects the rights of its citizens and is concerned about their welfare should eliminate its tariffs unilaterally, regardless of what other governments do.

The United States, as the leading capitalist country in the world, should phase out all of its protectionist policies and its tariffs on foreign products. The economic benefits to Americans would be incalculable, as tens of millions of producers and consumers would benefit directly from the savings that would accrue from the freedom to buy cheaper goods. In addition, such a principled stand on free trade might serve as an example to other nations, who could choose to be smart enough to follow America's lead or dumb enough to stay crippled by retaining their own protectionist policies.

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