Mill and Economic Liberty

This is originally all one paragraph but I am separating out here three sections

1) Again, trade is a social act. Whoever undertakes to sell any description of goods to the
public, does what affects the interest of other persons, and of society in general; and
thus his conduct, in principle, comes within the jurisdiction of society ...

2) But it is now recognized, though not till after a long struggle, that both the cheapness and the good quality of commodities are most effectually provided for by leaving the producers andsellers perfectly free, under the sole check of equal freedom to the buyers for supplying themselves elsewhere. This is the so-called doctrine of Free Trade, which rests on grounds different from, though equally solid with, the principle of individual liberty asserted in this Essay.

3) As the principle of individual liberty is not involved in the doctrine of Free Trade, so neither is it in most of the questions which arise respecting the limits of that doctrine: as for example, what amount of public control is admissible for the prevention of fraud by adulteration; how far sanitary precautions, or arrangements to protect work people employed in dangerous occupations, should be enforced on employers. Such questions involve considerations of liberty, only in so far as leaving people to themselves is always better, cæteris paribus, than controlling them: but that they may be legitimately controlled for these ends, is in principle undeniable.

John Stuart Mill, On Liberty, Chapter V Applications

#1, As has been pointed out by many before me, applies to almost any action. If that is all it takes to nullify the "principle of liberty", then it seems almost everything comes under the jurisdiction of society.

#2, Mill continually argues that his moral theory is based on calculations of utility. How is it that any bona fide "principle" rests on different grounds?

#3, Mill is in line with other economists like Sidgwick who allow for a list of regulations. These lists are are much longer than those of the radical capitalists; it is the legitimacy of control that radical capitalists will challenge.