Unilateral free trade is a better tool of change than isolation/sanctions toward illiberal regimes: economic sanctions rarely if ever produce regime change, typically hurt the country's citizens by blocking goods, and give bad leaders fodder to blame the U.S.; trade is voluntary and offers both economic gains and cultural exposure to the values and ideals underpinning a free society, though it is not a panacea.
normativepending
Speaker
Christopher CoyneEvidence Quote
“what better way to demonstrate to countries and citizens ... the powers of Western liberal democracy and capitalism and freedom than to actually allow them to exchange with us ... there's cultural benefits to free trade as well”
Created: 6/15/2026, 9:29:02 AM
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