Over the years, the belief has grown among the Trump Nation and has now baked into certainty that there is no longer any such thing as free trade, but rather manipulated trade controlled by an unholy collusion between multi-national corporations and both political parties, bought and paid for. This perceived collusion, through cynical, cleverly crafted "free trade" agreements, offshores American jobs to low-wage third-world countries, with finished goods and services imported back into the U.S. at first-world prices. (Search for NAFTA at The Last Refuge.)
The writer chose the world "belief". I wonder why? He then goes on to state the deleterious FACTS about so called "Free Trade". He uses that world, belief, as a disparagement IMO. This is a thinly veiled Never Trumper's attempt with coming to grips with reality.
Fascinating comment. Wouldn’t have considered that.