When Protectionism Endangers Lives

By Merrill Matthews

Peter Navarro, one of President Trump's trade advisors, recently slammed pharmaceutical lobbyists for opposing his "Buy American" executive order.

In his view, these "well-heeled Swamp Creatures" only oppose the proposed order -- which reportedly would require government agencies to purchase medicines and medical supplies from domestic suppliers -- because it'd hurt their companies' bottom lines.

But there are several reasons for relying on the diversity created by international supply chains that have nothing to do with pharmaceutical company profits. Think of it as the ph...