// mercantilists stressed the need to maintain exports over imports, that is a favorable balance of trade or positive trade balance (a surplus of exports over imports).
// since exports were viewed as good and imports were viewed as bad, governments attempted to control international trade with policies to maximize the positive trade balance.
// a collection of high taxes was imposed and various prohibitions were used to limit imports. Exports were heavily subsidized (financial supports). Tariffs on imports of raw materials (that could be transformed by domestic labor into exportable products) were low or nonexistent.
// mercantilists viewed trade as a zero- sum activity (one country’s gains come at the expense of other country – since a surplus in international trade for one country must be a deficit for some other).