Obama Takes Unexpected Setback On Trade Agenda As Fast Track Passes Senate

[Rilgin]

124. No real knowledge but you must be partially right

I can imagine that some origin labeling concepts have some motives of direct or indirect protectionism which is contrary to some aspects of "free trade" as an unlimited concept. However, it only works as protection for industry if somehow that also appeals to the consumer which makes it really just part of the demand.

If the consumer does not care, the motives of the legislator or even the label does not really matter. That was mostly my point, hiding information is actually a distortion of free trade because it fools consumer demand which would be influenced by that knowledge (regardless of whether that demand is political, taste, or is even arbitrary). Ultimately, whatever economic system one believes in, it seems to me that information in societies hand should not hurt it unless the economic system is totally warped and is based on some form of benign paternalism where the rulers and business people lie and hide things from the people "for their own benefit".