The question of whether the U.S. should adopt a free international trade policy is a hotly debated one. Currently, the U.S. has a relatively open trade policy and enjoys free trade with twenty countries1 and more are being added to this list through new agreements. But does it benefit from free trade? Evidence, which I will present in this paper, show that the benefits of free trade highly outweigh the little and often misinterpreted disadvantages. In light of this, the U.S. should adopt a free trade policy and look forward to new trade agreements. When evaluating the benefits of free trade, the first economic concept we must look at is comparative advantage: the comparative benefit one nation has over another in the production of a …show more content…
consumers would face inflated prices in a market devoid of international competition. However, cheaper goods are not the only advantage of free trade. Trade involves exports too, and as 95% of the consumers in the world are outside of the U.S., free trade opens a portal for the U.S. producers to sell their goods to a larger pool of consumers who potentially value the goods more than the U.S. consumers.5 According to Daniella Markheim and Anthony Kim of The Heritage Institute, without free trade, the U.S. manufacturers would be limited to selling to a lower number of consumers inside the U.S. and this would mean less firms producing, fewer jobs, and even lower wages. They say “Today, the $12 trillion U.S. economy is bolstered by free trade, a pillar of America 's vitality. American exports support one in five U.S. manufacturing jobs. Jobs directly linked to the export of goods pay 13 to 18 percent more than other U.S. jobs.”6 Further, United States Trade Representative estimates that the U.S. exports supported 11.3 million jobs in 2013. This clearly demonstrates how exports through free trade is beneficial to the U.S. economy. Evidence also shows that free trade stimulates a chain of growth in the economy because as economy becomes better as an effect of free trade, spending in the market increases, increasing demand. This results
The international trade sector of the U.S. economy continues to draw attention in economic and political circles. It is true that, the international market has become increasingly important as a source of demand for U.S. production and a source of supply for U.S. consumption. Indeed, it is substantially more important than is implied by the usual measures that relate the size of the international sector to the overall economy. This paper explores the role international trade now plays in the U.S. economy and answers the important questions for economic policy: How does international trade affect economic well-being? Who gains and who loses from free
While it is ideal to have free trade, which is trade without any restrictions upon it, it is not that simple. Instead, there are tariffs and quotas that prevent free trade. Tariffs are taxes on imports, and quotas are a limit on the quantity of a good that can be imported during a given time period. Tariffs and quotas exist because governments may prefer that their products be sold nationally more than another country’s products to help their own economy. Their own economy is helped because more jobs can be given to that country’s workers instead of another country’s workers. While quotas and tariffs may help boost a country’s economy, free trade allows for reduced prices, less inefficiencies, and increased consumption worldwide. With tariffs, the supply curve remains level as the price level never changes due to the extra-tax upon imported items. It should be
In conclusion, the topic of free trade is difficult to debate and often controversial as it has advantages but also disadvantages. Nonetheless, the drawbacks outweigh the benefits as it one, contravenes basic moral ideologies, two, makes the rich, richer, and the poor, poorer, and three, jeopardizes our declining environment. All in all, free trade will neither support nor sustain our country to be ethical, prosperous or
Economist have been debating between free trade and protectionism for decades. This debate has been most recently reiterated through President Donald Trump’s announcement that his administration would be taking steps to limit free trade in the United States. The opinion piece “Beware the Trump Trade Trap” by Liz Mair, argues that free trade is positively linked to a country’s prosperity, although most of the population may disagree with this. Mair argues that protectionism would limit consumption, however, it is important to also expand upon these ideas and to remember that free trade encourages prosperity, comparative advantage, and improves economic growth.
Free trade provides opportunity, it provides growth, and it provides struggling nations a chance. With free trade, markets open across national borders and the consumer ultimately benefits from higher quality goods at fair market prices. The producers of such goods now have larger markets to sell to allowing for the opportunity at increased sales, giving the consumer a greater variety of goods that can more individually meet specific demands. Free trade implementation to the United States foreign policy is a developing and revolutionary mindset that will bring prosperity to all parties involved. The United States will benefit from free trade because the market to purchase U.S. made goods and services will increase dramatically
In the past few decades, there has been much controversy over the issue of America’s involvement in foreign trade. Of course, for some, there is always a strong sense of nationalism that will ignite them to only buy products that were made in America. In contrast, for other buyers, it does not matter where the product was made. They want to participate in the trade market, regardless of where it was manufactured. From the creation of jobs for American citizens to causing the increase of some produce foods that they purchase at the local grocery store, there are many aspects that result in foreign trade that is occurring globally. In order for America to have the best global trade market, trade barriers need to be completely removed to
One of the greatest international economic debates of all time has been the issue of free trade versus protectionism. Proponents of free trade believe in opening the global market, with as few restrictions on trade as possible. Proponents of protectionism believe in concentrating on the welfare of the domestic economy by limiting the open-market policy of the United States. However, what effects does this policy have for the international market and the other respective countries in this market? The question is not as complex as it may seem. Both sides have strong opinions representing their respective viewpoints, and even the population of the United States is divided when it comes to taking a stand in
It is commonly believed that free trade between nations is a mutually beneficial arrangement for all parties involved; indeed, this is held to be an absolute truth. Though free trade is undoubtedly the most effective form of commerce between countries from a purely economic standpoint, increasingly we find that our so-called "free trade agreements" are horribly unbalanced. Indicative of these fiascoes is the North American
Free Trade is the concept we use when referring to selling of products between countries without tariffs, fees, or trade barriers. Free Trade simply is the absence of government interference or numerous restrictions, which has been labeled as laissez fair economics. Free Trade grants easier access to goods and services, promote faster growth for the economy, and also allows for the outsourcing of production of goods, which hurts the economy. Many believe that the free trade hurts developed countries and nations, due to the loss of jobs by international competition and can reduce the country’s GDP. Overall, free trade agreement with other countries can save time and money and increase participating countries economy.
The theory of comparative advantage explains the benefit of free trade. According to this theory by David Ricardo in the early 19th century, “Both countries will be better off if each specializes in the industry where it has a comparative advantage, and if the two trade with one another.” (Citation) International trade opens up markets to foreign supplier, and domestic companies need to improve their efficiency, boost productivity, and lower cost to increase competitiveness instead of enjoying monopolies or oligopolies that enabled them to keep prices well above marginal costs. On the other hand, international trade also offers domestic companies bigger demands and broader markets; therefore more jobs relevant to export have been created. Furthermore, jobs in the US supported by goods exports pay 13-18 percent more than the US national average (ustr.gov).
Free trade has long be seen by economists as being essential in promoting effective use of natural resources, employment, reduction of poverty and diversity of products for consumers. But the concept of free trade has had many barriers to over come. Including government practices by developed countries, under public and corporate pressures, to protect domestic firms from cheap foreign products. But as history has shown us time and time again is that protectionist measures imposed by governments has almost always had negative effects on the local and world economies. These protectionist measures also hurt developing countries trying to inter into the international trade markets.
Adam Smith, author of The Wealth of Nations, shows support for free trade and emphasises it as a trade policy which ought to be adopted. Krugman and Obstfeld back Smith's support by stating that the efficiency of trade is increased by free trade and accumulates the national income of countries. Free trade is a theory which suggests that each nation benefits in specialising in an economic activity from which it gains absolute advantage, enjoying absolute superiority over other nations in a specif economical activity (Peng). With free trade follows opportunity, replacing regulation and growth of economic activity. (Rugmann and Collinson).
”Free trade policies have created a level of competition in today's open market that engenders continual innovation and leads to better products, better-paying jobs, new markets, and increased savings and investment” (Denise Froning). Though Free trade plays a huge role in the economy today because of what and where it is used. Free trade allows for traders to trade across national boundaries and other countries without government interference. Meaning that traders have very few regulations that allow for them to do this without the government intervening. Free trade makes things for traders much easier and also allows for many more jobs in the US, such as exporting jobs, or jobs in the auto industry and plants. Though there are many
Furthermore, there is also literature written on the impact free trade has on the gears of an economic state. One of the components is the effects on employment, and how the free movement of goods has impacted on this section. Bassanini and Duval 2006 derive from their works that there is a direct link between free market and unemployment. However, they adhere that there isn’t a lot of research done on the surrounding area. Davis (1998) believes that the advancements in free trade can destroy employment, and have severe consequences. Furthermore, some
The principle of comparative advantage provides a simplified theory explaining why free trade is possible, even when one country has an economic disadvantage. Both the Ricardian and Heckscher-Ohlin theories rely on fixed economic assumptions of constant return and perfect competition. However, intuitively the basic principle of business is to increase returns through innovation, improving processes and technology or increasing economies of scale. Organizations understand they control pricing and are price setters, rather than price takers as suggested by perfect competition (Krugman & Obstfeld, 2003). The idea of increasing returns and imperfect competition challenge the foundations of comparative advantage.