free trade

American  

noun

1. trade between countries, free from governmental restrictions or duties.

2. international trade free from protective duties and subject only to such tariffs as are needed for revenue.

3. the system, principles, or maintenance of such trade.

4. Chiefly Scot. smuggling.

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free trade British  

noun

1. international trade that is free of such government interference as import quotas, export subsidies, protective tariffs, etc Compare protection

2. archaic illicit trade; smuggling

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free trade Cultural  

1. Unrestricted trade among nations without government tariffs or customs duties on imports.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• prefree-trade
  adjective
• free-trade
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of free trade

First recorded in 1600–10

Example Sentences

The trio are in the middle of a challenging review of a landmark North American free trade agreement, known as the USMCA.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

The expansion of an accord dating to 2000 comes as Mexico fights hard to preserve a three-way free trade agreement with the United States and Canada, which is crucial to all three economies.

From Barron's • May 22, 2026

Both sides condemn legalization, which exists in places like Amsterdam and which imposes a strong regulatory system—but for very different reasons: the first, because it normalizes exploitation and the latter because it limits free trade.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

"India stands to benefit from the diversification from China, and the recently concluded India-EU free trade agreement has already created momentum," he added.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

The agent poured himself a cup of free trade coffee from the wheezing pot, took a sip, and frowned.

From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray