Christmas Quick Hits

Things are about to get realllly slow in anticipation of the Big Guy's arrival on Saturday, so here's a cavalcade of reading material to tide you over:

• Cato vs. the US Antidumping Law.  Advantage: Cato.

• Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-MN) comes out swinging against the United States' embarrassing, anti-competitive corporate tax rate.

• The 111th Congress is over, and so is China currency legislation (until the next election season, natch).

• At literally the 11th hour, Congress extended trade benefits for Andean countries and US consumers of goods from those countries.  But by failing to extend the Generalized System of Preferences, Congress screwed over other developing countries and US consumers (who saved $577 million in 2009 due to the program).  Gee thanks, Sen. Sessions.   By the way, be sure to check out that USTR press release: Amb. Kirk talks about import benefits and tariff savings.  Nice!

• Great essay by GMU's Don Boudreaux on tariffs, freedom and that age-old canard that protectionism propelled the US to glorious heights in the late 1800s. 

• Free trade helps ensure peace on earth (and goodwill towards men, I'm sure).

• An excellent defense of those dastardly market speculators.

• And, finally, a Christmas monkey message:

Merry Christmas, everyone.