@LostInParadise China’s capitalism is funded in much the same way ours was. The state sets the rules, regulates corporations, sets tariffs, regulates imports and exports, builds infrastructure.
I do a lot of business all over the world. The only place I saw the effects of “free trade” is in the U.S. unrestricted imports. Our exports are still closely regulated and tarriffed by our partners, even Canada. If you don’t believe me try going through the border and tell them you have trade goods and are going to do a little work up there.
China is more lenient when we go there on a project but every trip has to be pre-approved. Import repair parts still have difficulty going through customs.
Singapore has no problem with this, mostly because they are a corporatocracy already. They import labor on a strict contract basis and labor is sent back when the contract expires.
Brazil has a strict Brazilian content rule. Sometimes it is easier to build the equipment, to our specifications, in Brazil rather than attempt to import it.
Absolutely free trade is a complete friction and leads to corporations dictating their ideas of democracy to us. The WTO is a good example of corporation take over of governments and making them a slave to corporations regardless of the suffering of the people.