Free Trade

For President Trump, tariffs are not only an economic tool, but they are also useful for leverage in international negotiations. The Ford School's Alton Worthington explains Trump's tariff strategy and why it will not sustain longevity.

Jonathan Hanson, Ford School professor, discussed how the US has turned away from the idea of free trade, he said the U.S. has been pushing toward protectionism by subsidizing plants to build in the country. He said, "The overall political climate ha...

While President Trump’s rhetoric about trade and the tariffs his administration has implemented aim to make America more protectionist, Ford School professor Justin Wolfers argues the recent and forthcoming actions still have a long way to go to make...

In “Why do U.S. retraining programs fall short,” part of an NPR Marketplace series on the history of waxing and waning trade barriers, Marina Whitman talks about her early advocacy for free trade during the Nixon Administration, the ways in which Ame...

In "Trump moves quickly in bid to revamp America's trade policy," the LA Times quotes Alan Deardorff, whose work is focused on international trade and the effects of trade deals. The article, published on January 23, examines the implications of Pres...

In a December 13th Detroit Free Press op-ed,  “Where will public goods stand in Trump’s administration?”, Marina v.N. Whitman considers the importance of public goods to President-elect Trump’s administration. Whitman explains, “Everybody’s ‘market b...

Cynthia Canty, host of Michigan Radio’s "Stateside," interviewed Marina v. N. Whitman about trade liberalization for the November 7 segment, “Nixon advisor: Regardless of next president, ‘hard to be optimistic’ about economic future.” Like many econo...

"If there’s one thing that nearly all economists agree on, it’s that getting rid of trade restrictions is generally good for a country’s economy," says Marina v.N. Whitman in her October 24 piece for The Conversation, “Want to help free trade’s loser...

In an October 2 Detroit Free Press op-ed, Marina v.N. Whitman outlines how trade policies can work for all Americans. Addressing polling data and the policy positions of both presidential candidates against free trade agreements, Professor Whitma...

Following the first presidential debate on Monday evening, Professor Alan Deardorff spoke with CNN Money writer Patrick Gillespie about Trump’s characterization of NAFTA. Trump has repeatedly called NAFTA a “terrible deal” that is responsible for the...

Alan Deardorff’s “Decision from G20 leaders could prove the tipping point for free trade,” published by The Conversation and syndicated by the Associated Press, encourages G20 leaders to push for the adoption of the World Trade Organization’s Trade F...