free trade

noun

1. trade between countries, free from governmental restrictions or duties.
2. international trade free from protective duties and subject only to such tariffs as are needed for revenue.
3. the system, principles, or maintenance of such trade.
4. Chiefly Scot. smuggling.

free trade

noun

1. See protection
   international trade that is free of such government interference as import quotas, export subsidies, protective tariffs, etc Compare protection
2. archaic.
   illicit trade; smuggling

free trade

1. Unrestricted trade among nations without government tariffs or customs duties on imports.

Other Words From

• free-trade adjective
• prefree-trade adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of free trade¹

First recorded in 1600–10

Example Sentences

Now it could show the Western hemisphere what a future digital free trade zone might look like.

From Ozy

The three nations are ahead of the curve as digital economies and could lay out a blueprint for a free trade zone specifically for online commerce.

From Ozy

Following years of preparation, and a pandemic postponement from its original start date in mid-2019, the world will welcome the largest free trade area since the development of the World Trade Organization, by number of participating countries.

From Quartz

Chilean wine is subject to a 0% tariff in China, thanks to a free trade agreement signed in 2005 that gradually reduced tariffs on wine to nothing in 2015.

From Fortune

The UK says this can be solved by a regular, old-school-style free trade agreement, like the one Canada has with the EU.

From Vox

The agreement would have established free trade and political cooperation and put Ukraine on the road to EU membership.

From The Daily Beast

On the Democratic side of the ledger antipathy towards free trade is presumed and, by now, historic.

From The Daily Beast

Most companies want expanded free-trade deals and tort reform.

From The Daily Beast

The new guidelines do not impinge on the free-trade agreement or other agreements governing cultural and sports exchanges.

From The Daily Beast

Last term, he got Congress to approve new free trade pacts with South Korea, Colombia and Panama.

From The Daily Beast

The doctrine of international free trade, albeit the most conspicuous of its applications, was but one case under the general law.

From Project Gutenberg

The doctrines of free trade are of very recent growth; the data on which its laws are founded are few, and also uncertain.

From Project Gutenberg

Cobdenites ascribe every known or imagined improvement in commerce, and the condition of the masses, to Free Trade.

From Project Gutenberg

England has sinned against India by forcing free trade upon her.

From Project Gutenberg

In the Liberal campaign on behalf of free trade the real leader, however, was Mr Asquith.

From Project Gutenberg