[AZLiberty]

Despite the declarations of Milton Friedman, free trade hasn't been all roses for the U.S. Free trade has strengthened our enemies, weakened domestic producers, and exported jobs to countries near and far. The Waltons and Apple have grown rich providing stuff to Americans based on the labor of Chinese and other foreign workers, but their own employees have to rely on Medicaid for their health insurance.

This article from around the time of the Trump inauguration tries to provide a balanced view.

[Cobra64]

Personally, I can’t stand the term “free trade.” “Fair trade” is the ticket.

[SoFloFreeper]

I am no expert, but would Friedman consider the current situation free trade or no? I think Trump is using tariffs as a means, not an end. Real free trade would mean the goods compete on the merits of value WITHOUT barriers from either side.

[9YearLurker]

Too often it hasn’t been free trade, but biased trade—against us.

Free trade in principle enriches both sides, but there are competing domestic and national security interests that sometimes (some would say often) make it unwise, and it has indeed been done on a rigged basis against us for decades.

[Bookshelf]

Taxes on US cars imported into Germany are (tax and value added) approximately thirty percent. In addition US cars must meet crazy German standards. This basically precludes US exports. And this is free trade?

[anton]

Free Trade looks good on paper.

Add a couple of million cheaters and a couple dozen slavemaster governments and the working model is not so smooth running.