[maximus_01]

I'm not here to debate whether free markets are good or bad, but governments have a privileged position versus private companies, and effectively operate above the law (again at least compared to private companies). Any government intervention takes us away from a free market, either a little bit or a lot, depending on the action. Apple is a private company. Anything it does is really part of the free market, at least in the original meaning of that as described by Adam Smith and co.

[nicoburns]

> governments have a privileged position versus private companies, and effectively operate above the law

A lot of private companies effectively operate above the law too! In theory the law can be enforced on them. In practice it often isn't.

[philosopher1234]

We’re talking about China subsidizing goods that it sells in another country. This is bread and butter “free market” behavior. Literally every company in the world does this one way or another.

[maximus_01]

No, that is not the free market at work at all. I agree it happens however. We simply don't live in a 100% free market world.

[bdangubic]

“subsidising” and “free market” are antonyms we learn in 3rd grade language arts class :)