Right to the heart of the matter. Nicely done.
"Free trade" is a slogan. It refers to a type of tariff policy that encourages exports through negotiations with other nations.
It doesn't mean "no tariff policy" and it shouldn't mean encouraging IMPORTS to solve economic problems in foreign countries.
Like everything else, it's become a struggle between people who understand words like "foreigner", even "enemy", and people who do not.
United States, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, Canada, Mexico and Japan.
If you take time to look at the data the USA has had a no tariff policy in place for decades and decades. THe problem with free trade deals is anyone older than 40 has seen the demise of the USA's economy but we are told there is no down side to these international agreements. Why does every agreement acknowledge that US workers will be displaced and money be aside for retraining. I mean how f-ed up is that?