General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Liberalism in Europe 'facing its biggest fight' against the far-right and 'the politics of fear' [View all]rogerashton
(3,920 posts)Competition among nations is mercantilism, which believers in the free market and the invisible hand reject. Oppoosition to mercantilism was Smith's main purpose. Smith's passage that you quote refers quite clearly to the pursuit of self-interest by "men of business" -- by individuals, as you quote explicitly.
For a short version of Smith's economics, see http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~mccainra/excerpts/asmith.html
As to support for unions, they are supported by Social Democrats in the continent of Europe and by the Labor Party in Britain. Of course, that's why it is called the Labor Party. All of these are opposed by Liberals -- the Lib Dems in Britain, Free Democrats in Germany, Radicals in Italy, etc. I'm not sure there are any Liberals in France.