Imports have grown 85 percent since 1985. During 1986-91, U.S. exports rose by 91 percent, while Japan's exports grew by only 17 percent. In fact, it can be argued that the United States is the unfair trader. For example, America limits imports of ice cream to the equivalent of one teaspoon per person each year, and foreign peanuts to two per person. It is estimated that over 40 percent of world trade is carried out by more than 2,000 multinational corporations that have no national identity and that produce and distribute through a globally integrated network.
Free trade is still the best option for promoting American prosperity.
Our future depends on keeping our borders open and the goods and services flowing. At the time of the original publication, Professor Kamath taught economics at California State University at Hayward.