Clyde Prestowitz May 30 You have to keep in mind that the United States became rich by maintaining high tariffs and protectionist, mercantilist policies from 1815 until 1948. Moreover, every country that ever got rich (aside from oil countries and gold producers) did so in the same way. The UK led the industrial revolution by using high tariffs, English preference, and even required shipping in British bottoms. Germany, France, Sweden , Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and now China all pursued mercantilist, protetionist policies to develep their domestic economies. Economists tend to look only at immediate consumer prices without considering the longer term effects of economies of scale and technological development. Innovation and economies of scale are the key to econommic growth and productivity. Consider that Germany was the leading producer of solar panels until China got into the game. China kept imports of German panels to a minimum. Sure, initially that meant that Chinese users of panesl paid more than users of German panels. But as production increased in China to meet demand in such a large market, economies of scale kicked in and China became the low cost producer. it drove the Germans out of business and nearly did the same to the Americans. Comparative advantage isn't something that just kind of happens. It can be manufactured. That is what Chinese restraints on imports of panels from Germany did for China. You might have said at a certain moment that the restrainst were not working and were only hurting Chinese consumers. But now it turns out that threy made China the low cost producer and created a huge growth industry for China. Please, you must look at the whole picture over time considering the immense importance of economies of scale.