Free trade examined
“With the agreements I sign today, Americas economic relationships with Chile and Singapore will be based on free trade. ... President Bush made this statement as he signed a free trade agreement with Chile and Singapore in the White House. ... Free trade does not offer financial gain for all concerned. Rodrick argued that free trade might bring wealth to developed nations, such as the United States, Great Britain, and Japan, but does not offer the same benefit to those developing nations like Haiti or Mexico. Free trade, according to Rodrick, is not the catalyst for economic growth in these developing nations. ... 1) Those who believe that free trade is the vehicle for economic growth and stability of nations. They advocate that trade barriers be lowered increasing the potential for commerce giving way to an increased amount of jobs, greater wealth, and an improved overall lifestyle. ... This means that free trade cannot produce something that does not already exist. Free trade cannot circumvent the natural development of economic growth toward stability of nations. Rodrick believed that nations that prematurely implement the principles of free trade would be damaged financially instead of benefited.