Welcome to Freedom to Trade
The Freedom to Trade Campaign is a coalition of 76 think tanks and civil society organizations in 48 countries, which supports free trade and opposes protectionism in all its guises. Please sign our free trade petition.
Latest news
Africa Calling
The recent African Union summit, held in Ethiopia, focussed upon the impact of Information Communication Technology upon Africa. Few technologies can boast having as positive impact for Africans as the explosion of mobile phones. However, some governments continue to restrict their people from enjoying the benefits mobile technology can bring.
Sweet for farmers- sour for everyone else:
Coming just days after WTO officials vowed to continue fighting domestic protectionism, here is an example of the harm caused by “protection” sought by vested interests – at the expense of everyone else. Farmers in the U.S. enjoy protection against more efficient foreign producers of cane sugar: U.S. produced sugar has been, on average, twice as expensive as world sugar prices since 1980. This protectionism cost U.S. businesses and consumers $2.5 billion in 2009.
World Social Forum doesn't offer solutions to poverty
2010 is the 10 year anniversary of the World Social Forum (WSF) but, as Alec van Gelder reports, the event does not help address the real problems facing impoverished people around the world. Disguised by anti-globalisation rhetoric the forum lacks a pragmatic approach to economic development and trade. Contrary to the WSF’s socialist ideology poorer countries actually need more access to, and less protection from, global markets.
“Made in China” means “Made with the rest of the world”
The row over China’s domination of the global export market continues to simmer, but as Dan Ikenson tells us, Chinese growth benefits everyone.
Keep trade free, Australia!
In today’s The Australian, Tim Wilson details the benefits of the US/Australian Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Refuting the self-interested claims of the anti-trade minority he highlights the huge increases in U.S. investment in Australia since the inception of the agreement in 2005:
EU protectionism rises — from shoes to steel
Alec van Gelder and Timothy Cox have an article in today’s China Post detailing EU protectionism in 2009.
“The European Union (EU) imposed 89 new trade barriers in 2009 and rounded off the year by prolonging tariffs on shoes from China and Vietnam, originally due to expire in 2008.”
Free EU-India trade for a much needed boost to global growth
An EU-India Free Trade Agreement would provide a much needed jolt to global growth and could triple bilateral trade to a staggering EUR160 billion by 2015. Alec van Gelder and Phillip Stevens argue in Mint (India) that this mutually beneficial agreement could be an early highlight of the great recovery in 2010. But important obstacles remain.
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