Economic protectionism is an old, global practice that can take many forms, but almost always results in harm to both consumers and companies alike. One popular tactic in the protectionism playbook is a country of origin ban, where products are restricted or banned altogether based solely on where they are manufactured. Proponents usually cite nebulous national security concerns which largely go unchallenged. However, politicians should look skeptically at country of origin bans and other trade restrictions, as nationalism is often exploited by domestic competitors who produce expensive or inferior products.
This is not just an American phenomenon, nor is it a new one. For example, the rise of economic nationalism in Europe resulted in French President Emmanuel Macron engaging in some aggressive protectionism. Upon taking office, Macron nationalized a French shipyard to block an Italian company from taking it over. The pretext was that the takeover was in the “national interest” of France, a favoriate phrase of governments used to justify any action. This despite the ostensible role of the European Union in fostering greater economic ties on the continent.
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