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 Mulroney forged close ties with the United States through a sweeping free trade agreement. Rob Gillies The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 3 Mar. 2024 With many visas going to frontline healthcare professionals, in 2022, Jamaican citizens were issued more EB-3 or professional employment visas than other countries in North America, outside of Canada and Mexico—both parties to a free trade agreement with the United States. Richard Fowler, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Vietnam already has a free trade agreement with the European Union. John Ruwitch, NPR, 1 Mar. 2024 That helps explain many of the protesters’ call for Brussels to abandon a potential new free trade deal with farmers in South America, seen as likely to drive down the price of their own crops. Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 Feb. 2024 In a bid to boost the industrial sector and lift exports, the Indian government has sought to sign free trade deals, a move that’s been warmly received around the world. Rhea Mogul, CNN, 14 Feb. 2024 No case for a free trade agreement can be made with statistics like these. Peter E. Harrell, Foreign Affairs, 26 Feb. 2024 At least 50% of the critical minerals in the battery must be extracted or processed in the U.S. or a country that has a free trade agreement with the U.S., or be recycled in North America. Bailey Schulz, USA TODAY, 3 Jan. 2024 The European Economic Area extended free trade to surrounding nonmember countries. Paul Lewis, New York Times, 27 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'free trade.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 29 Mar. 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
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