Following on from Tim Worstall and my post on the EU textile lies comes some interesting research from Stephen Frost. He notes the Chinese apparel export boom has not come at the expense of other SE Asian countries. Strike that myth. Indeed they may benefit further as several Chinese firms contemplate opening factories in SE Asia to avoid American and Europe protectionist measures.

That's the thing with free trade - it can increase the pie for everyone. Why? Because cheaper prices mean more people are prepared to buy (in economics speak, the supply curve is shifted to the right resulting in lower prices but more demand). Now you can scrap the guilt card from the protectionist playbook too.