Free trade as ideology: fair trade as goal problems of an ideological approach in U.S. trade policy

Increased protectionist practices among the major industrialized countries present serious challenges to a free trade doctrine. Contradictions between theory and practice make the defense of a pure trade system increasingly untenable. Yet U.S. trade policy continues to be driven by an ideological commitment to such a system. Changing international economic and political conditions suggest that a new “fair trade” paradigm may be in the making. However, replacement of a “free” trade regime by a “fair” one will depend on how well the weaknesses of a free trade ideology can be overcome. These weaknesses are discussed and some suggestions are offered for clarifying policy thinking about free trade under contemporary conditions.