Criticisms of Free Trade
In the real world, trade agreements are negotiated by independent nations with their own interests and values in mind. There are values and interests other than maximum global output. Some level of protectionism is used by almost every nation that has the power to use it in the form of subsidies or tariffs to protect industries that nation considers essential, such as food and steel production.
Economic arguments against free trade criticize the assumptions or conclusions of economic theories. Sociopolitical arguments against free trade cite social and political effects that economic arguments do not capture, such as political stability, national security, human rights and environmental protection.
Read more about this topic: Free Trade Debate
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—William James (1842–1910)
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—Sigmund Freud (1856–1939)
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—George Washington (1732–1799)
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—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)