Confronting the Threat of Inexpensive Pakistani Pillows

George Will has a good column in the Sunday Post taking the Administration to task for its inconsistent trade policy. Despite the invaluable assistance granted to American forces by the government of Pakistan, for example, we've responded rather coldly to their requests that we lower textile tariffs on pillows, sheets, towels, underwear and the like. Rewarding our allies and implementing the President's desire for freer trade around the world would seem to be a natural combination, but not in this case. Worse yet, the recent tariffs imposed on steel and Canadian lumber are only likely to inspire further rounds of industry rent-seeking. As Will writes, "protectionism breeds protectionism."