The concept of free trade is the opposite of trade protectionism or economic isolationism. There are 14 U.S. free trade agreements with 20 countries: Australia, Bahrain, Chile, Colombia, Israel, Jordan, Korea, Morocco, Oman, Panama, Peru, Singapore; DR-CAFTA (Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua); and NAFTA (Canada and Mexico). For example, a country could allow free trade with another country, with exceptions that prohibit the importation of certain drugs that have not been approved by its regulators, or animals that have not been vaccinated, or processed foods that do not meet their standards. Documenting how a product is created or compliant with the rules of origin can make using the tariffs negotiated by the FTA a little more complicated. However, these rules ensure that U.S. exports, not exports from other countries, reap the benefits of the agreement. In the modern world, free trade policy is often implemented through a formal and mutual agreement between the nations concerned. However, a free trade policy may simply be the absence of trade restrictions.

This view was first popular in 1817 by the economist David Ricardo in his book On the Principles of Political Economy and Taxation. He argued that free trade expands diversity and lowers the prices of goods available in a country while making better use of its resources, knowledge and specialized skills. Here is a list of free trade agreements in which the United States is involved. The parentheses indicate the abbreviation, if any, the composition, unless previously specified, and the date of entry into force. Removing barriers to trade and creating a more stable and transparent trade and investment environment makes it easier and cheaper for U.S. companies to export their products and services to trading partner markets. A government does not have to take specific measures to promote free trade. This non-surrendered position is called “laissez-faire trade” or trade liberalization. Not surprisingly, financial markets see the other side of the coin. Free trade is an opportunity to open up another part of the world to domestic producers. Or there could be policies that exempt certain products from duty-free status to protect domestic producers from foreign competition in their industries.