Trade Policies of Both Parties Ignore What Most Americans Say They Want

James Bacchus

One of the few issues our two major political parties appear to agree on is their mutual embrace of protectionism in international trade. They are both increasingly committed to raising barriers to trade while ignoring the global rules that make freer trade possible. Yet a recent national survey by the Cato Institute shows that, with some quibbles and qualifications, a solid majority of the American people favor more trade.

What explains the stark inconsistency...