Protectionist Policies and Canadian Trade

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Should We Use Protectionist Trade Policies to Help Shield Canadian Industries from Foreign Competition?

Over the last decade, whether or not we should use policies that shield our domestic businesses from the foreign competitors became a concerned issue for Canadians. Some believe that these policies are to be not to be used in Canada, while others think the opposite. Personally, I believe that Canada should terminate protectionism. First, it will decrease Canada’s competitiveness, second, protectionism has already failed, and lastly, even though free trade makes some Canadians lose jobs now, it prevents a worldwide depression.

First, protectionism will hinder Canada’s ability to compete against other countries of the world. Free trade does the exact opposite. Selling foreign goods in Canada pressures Canadian companies to produce better and cheaper items, and allows Canada to raise its competitiveness worldwide, not just domestically. The inefficient factories in Canada must close for Canada to remain prosperous, and Canada should not subsidize those companies unless it is du...

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