Tariffs were very strong American worker wage protection, HENCE corporations hate tariffs.

[Armstead]

24. You just nailed the problem with modern "free trade" agreements

"It certainly seems that he believed that domestic policies were more important than trade in improving living standards. Empowering unions, raising taxes on the rich, making the safety net better, tighter corporate regulation government spending to boost employment - all liberal domestic policies that made life better for American workers. This is the same combination of liberal domestic policies and trade that progressive countries follow today."

What do you think these current "free trade" agreements are intended to do?

PREVENT nations from doing trhose wonderful progressive things you describe. They are intended to remove the sovereign ability of nations to determine their own laws and policies. They are designed to make progressive values subservient to the dictates of Big Capital throughout the world.