Free trade

Free trade is a term meaning unregulated trade between nations without tariffs or quotas placed on the goods exchanged. This is generally a positive thing as it allows countries with an absolute advantage, such as China with its cheap labor, to cooperate with its neighbors and produce more goods than either country could in isolation.

Free trade is controversial because it can have undesired side effects, such as a massive loss of manufacturing jobs by the wealthier trading partner though a mechanism known as offshoring those jobs to a trading partner having cheaper labor. In economics, this is known as a market correction.

Free trade also raises moral issues, such as the use by a nation of slave labor or building military weapons to be used against other nations. In addition, free trade can increase the importation of undesired, concealed illegal drugs^{[Citation Needed]}.