number of extreme cases, shutting off trade seems unlikely to be an effective method of pursuing a cleaner

environment.

Finally, there are arguments involving safety and security. Under the rules of the World Trade Organization,

countries are allowed to set whatever standards for product safety they wish, but the standards must be the

same for domestic products as for imported products and there must be a scientific basis for the standard. The

national interest argument for protectionism holds that it is unwise to import certain key products because if

the nation becomes dependent on key imported supplies, it could be vulnerable to a cutoff. However, it is often

wiser to stockpile resources and to use foreign supplies when available, rather than preemptively restricting

foreign supplies so as not to become dependent on them.

20.4 How Governments Enact Trade Policy: Globally, Regionally, and Nationally
{"file_hash": "830b81f41611ac67a490444dbb5d6aed292224606965b06965b914443c93331a", "file_type": ".pdf", "source_file": "downloads\\business\\economics\\Microeconomics3e.pdf", "moddate": "2022-12-07T14:23:05-06:00", "batch_upload": true, "file_size_mb": 26.99, "creationdate": "2022-12-07T14:15:44-06:00", "uploaded_via": "batch_uploader", "total_pages": 597, "producer": "Prince 14.2 (www.princexml.com)", "title": "Principles of Microeconomics 3e", "creator": "PDFMiner", "source": "downloads\\business\\economics\\Microeconomics3e.pdf", "upload_timestamp": "2026-02-07T15:37:44.339247", "file_name": "Microeconomics3e.pdf"}