http://tlf.disqus.com/The Technology Liberation Front is the tech policy blog dedicated to keeping politicians' hands off the 'net and everything else related to technology.enWed, 26 Mar 2008 16:42:47 -0000http://techliberation.com/2008/03/26/the-new-smoots-or-silicon-is-the-new-steel/#comment-1453668Tim, you're right. Basically, Free Trade Agreements should be just that. Right now, they're sorta free trade agreements, which isn't that great. It's a bit of two steps forward and one step back, but at least we're moving in the right direction.cordblomquistWed, 26 Mar 2008 16:42:47 -0000http://techliberation.com/2008/03/26/the-new-smoots-or-silicon-is-the-new-steel/#comment-1453667Cord, I agree. One thing to keep in mind, though: some of these agreements are loaded up with provisions that have nothing to do with lowering trade barriers. For example, we had Gwen Hinze on the podcast last summer to talk about the <a href="http://www.techliberation.com/archives/042445.php" rel="nofollow">copyright-related provisions</a> of the Korean agreement, which required Korea to make various changes to its domestic copyright laws that benefit Hollywood at the expense of Korean consumers. I don't think this is a reason to reject the FTAs, but I do wish more free traders would be more vocal about objecting to this kind of rent-seeking. Building momentum for free trade is hard enough without alienating potential allies over unrelated issues like copyright law.Tim LeeWed, 26 Mar 2008 16:24:10 -0000