Thats sort of the reason I never associated Laissez-faire with France. I always imagined the idea of free trade as so basic that it is like the Wheel . Nobody can claim to have invented it .
What a shock to think that the hideous construct of government control is the original condition of things. Anyhow Laissez-faire is a great idea. It might cheer your heart to know that the Laissez faire concept is taught to every child in America in the 6th grade.