The general notion that contracts are mutually beneficial to the contracting parties loses validity in this instance as consumers are not able to express their desires freely. The demand for foreign products will decrease as the import duties hike prices. This, in turn, benefits domestic producers. By distorting production and the choice available to the consumers, the government redistributes income to the detriment of the consumers. Special interest groups have a practical advantage in the political realm, which should alert us to the dangers of collectivism.
Voters face politicians from a vastly different perspective than they face producers.
In the economic field, consumers are economic voters. Each dollar spent represents an economic vote which indicates to the producer how to utilize scarce resources. The producer who best satisfies the consumers' desires obtains more money votes-more income. Consumers do not pay attention to the identity of the producer. They are totally insensitive as to whether or not the producer is a good or bad person, or as to his race, color or nationality.