free trade

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.

free trade

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

free trade

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

Other Word Forms

• free-trade adjective
• prefree-trade adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of free trade¹

First recorded in 1600–10

Example Sentences

"We're a country that has always done very well with open trade, free trade. And this is really the merchant side of Dutch policy," she says.

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And many food imports from Mexico - America's single biggest foreign food supplier - were already spared tariffs, due to White House exemptions for goods covered by a US, Mexico and Canada free trade agreement.

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Canada is currently facing 35% tariffs on its goods - although most are exempt under an existing North American free trade agreement - as well as individual levies targeting particular industries like car and steel manufacturing.

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Then, as now, the two-party system holds diametrically opposing views of America: big versus small government, free trade versus punitive tariffs, a wealth class versus the needs of the common people.

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The US has a 35% tariff on Canadian goods, though most are exempt under an existing free trade agreement.

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