If safety towards imports from nation C (say, China) by the state of nation A (say, the US) is sweet, then an embargo by the federal government of C on exports to A have to be good too. Anyone in A, or at the very least its authorities, ought to cheer. One thing comparable might occur relating to Chinese language exports of some gear used to fabricate photo voltaic panel parts. The Wall Road Journal reviews (“New China Rule Threatens to Disrupt U.S. Photo voltaic Ambitions,” January 31, 2022):

China’s Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Science and Know-how are contemplating including superior expertise used within the manufacturing of ingots and wafers, among the constructing blocks of photo voltaic panels, to an inventory of applied sciences which might be topic to export controls.

Such a ban would trigger a rise on the earth costs of those high-tech machines and of photo voltaic panels. No shock that American producers of photo voltaic panels, who can’t compete with Chinese language producers at present costs, are thrilled:

“China’s proposed export restraints are Exhibit A on the necessity to quickly scale American photo voltaic manufacturing,” stated Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the U.S. enterprise foyer Photo voltaic Power Industries Affiliation.

This should indicate that, ought to the French authorities decree an embargo on the exportation of wine, it could be Exhibit A on the necessity for the UK authorities to quickly scale up home wine manufacturing.

Adam Smith already defined in The Wealth of Nations:

By the use of glasses, hotbeds, and hotwalls, superb grapes might be raised in Scotland, and superb wine too might be manufactured from them at about thirty occasions the expense for which at the very least equally good might be introduced from overseas nations.

Criticizing the 1908 protectionist platform of the Republican get together, Frank Taussig wrote in his The Tariff Historical past of the US (I quote from the 1914 sixth version):

Something on the earth might be made inside a rustic if the producer is assured of “price of manufacturing with cheap income.” … superb pineapples might be grown in Maine, if solely an obligation be imposed ample to equalize the price of manufacturing between the growers in Maine and people in additional favored climes.

The advantage of commerce, whether or not home or overseas commerce, is that consumers can get their merchandise (and providers) from the least expensive supply. I go away it as an train for my reader (particularly if he’s an economics scholar) to influence himself that imports are extra essential than exports. Apparently, this perception ought to be extra prevalent  amongst protectionist conservatives, who mustn’t need “our nationwide sources” for use to supply items and providers for foreigners as an alternative of for “us.” However protectionists are usually not recognized for his or her logic; it’s your decision to take a look at my Regulation article “Logic, Economics, and Protectionist Nationalism.”

Why do protectionist forces sometimes beg their authorities to ban imports, not exports? As a result of protectionism is principally a manner for particular pursuits, each company and trade-union, to steal from their fellow residents.

Besides if the purpose of life is to combat members of neighboring tribes and management one’s personal tribe, nationwide protection doesn’t usually present a ample motive to dam commerce (though, in excessive circumstances, it could); see my EconLog publish “Fearing Leviathans With Ft of Clay.”