Why It Seems Like Everybody’s Getting a State Bailout

Even before the coronavirus slammed the brakes on the world economy, governments were breaking free market principles all the time, handing out special treats to favored firms like cheap loans and tax breaks. These subsidies, known as state aid, have become the thorniest issue in global trade as countries accuse each other of not playing fair. As the Covid-19 pandemic ramps up pressure on governments around the world to bail out companies and keep economies afloat, new fights are erupting over t