free trade

noun

: trade based on the unrestricted international exchange of goods with tariffs used only as a source of revenue

Examples of free trade in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But many voters respond well to Trump’s tariff proposals, feeling that years of free trade decimated factory towns across America. Annie Nova,rebecca Picciotto, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2024 One of the more surprising developments in recent American politics has been the backlash against free trade. Erik Guzik / The Conversation, Quartz, 4 Nov. 2024 Establishing a foreign policy based on free trade among countries was key to the American experiment. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2024 Later, with the election of Ronald Reagan and the embrace of free market conservatism in the 1980s up until the inauguration of Donald Trump, the Republicans reversed their historic protectionism to become champions of free trade. Bruce J. Schulman / Made By History, TIME, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for free trade 

Word History

First Known Use

1766, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of free trade was in 1766

Dictionary Entries Near free trade

Cite this Entry

“Free trade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/free%20trade. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

free trade

noun
: trade between nations without restrictions (as high taxes on imports)

More from Merriam-Webster on free trade

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!