That was not for the sake of having an open and free market. Note the increase in regulations and taxation that came concurrent with that, eliminating the US free market in the process and replacing it with a sort of social market economy. It was for the sake of allowing non-market economies to assail the USA’s market.
Non-market economies and market economies (especially free market) are incompatible and irreconcilable with each other. This is the ultimate in asymmetrical warfare, rather; reminiscent of Sun Tzu’s admonition to “take the enemy’s country whole and intact” (Art of War, III:1), with people in our government only too willing to help.
I am actually talking about Australia but you point is taken while the reasons given may not be those in actuality. Another thing here has been that being an Island our quality and bio-security of our produce has always been a big selling point but “for the sake of an open market” we now let produce into the country from areas with blight or other diseases without requiring of them the same stringent rules that apply to our own farmers. We are one of the few places on earth that does not have problems with honey bee hives yet risks are taken with that as well. Not good for the country. Also we have let large companies fail recently without the pre-planning of having something to replace them. When these companies close in a couple of years there will be employment deserts in the surrounding areas. I am all for cutting subsidies for companies but it needs to be a planned exit and not just a demolition!