The reciprocal logic of trade agreements—'we open our markets only if you open yours'—is intellectually bankrupt mercantilism; the correct view is that we benefit from trade regardless of what other countries do, so we should lower our barriers unilaterally even if others harm their own citizens with theirs.

normativepending

Speaker

Russ Roberts

Evidence Quote

if you guys don't want to open your markets and you want to harm your citizens by putting up trade barriers we're not that stupid we're gonna let our citizens thrive

Source

Mike Munger on Fair Trade and Free Trade 12/3/2007EconTalk
Created: 6/17/2026, 10:31:24 AM

My Notes

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