the.com/free trade
the theory that tariffs are self-inflicted wounds dressed up as patriotism.
means an economic policy where countries trade goods without taxes, quotas, or other government barriers getting in the way.
from crystallized as a doctrine in adam smith's 1776 the wealth of nations, then weaponized by david ricardo's 1817 theory of comparative advantage, arguing everyone wins if countries specialize instead of hoarding.
comparative advantageyou can win trading even if worse at everything.
corn laws repealbritain's 1846 tariff U-turn birthed the modern debate.
nafta erareshaped north american manufacturing across three decades, fast.
wto members164 countries bound by rules, still fight anyway.
for instance
nafta usmca — linked us, mexico, canada supply chains since 1994, updated 2020.
eu single market — 27 countries, zero internal tariffs, one giant experiment.
asean free trade area — ten southeast asian nations cutting tariffs since 1992.
us china tariff war — 2018 tariffs on 360 billion dollars flipped decades of consensus.