Sample Masters Economics Essay

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Does Unilateral Free Trade Serve a Nation’s Economic Interests?

Globalization has provided many opportunities worldwide, including educational, technological, and economic progress. [1] International trade is an excellent opportunity for exchanging goods and services globally. [2] Global free trade does not allow consumers to access imported goods from other countries and offers a chance to represent their domestic goods to the international market and prosper worldwide. [3]

Another flip side of international trade is that it increases international competition and the risk of intellectual property theft, extra shipping charges, returning the purchased goods, and destroys localized jobs. [4] What if unilateral trade is imposed on a country?

A unilateral trade agreement is an agreement that is enforced on a country or industry by another, and it focuses only on the profit of the country that imposes it.[5] It is implemented by restricting or minimizing imports and increasing taxes.

Free trade is an association between countries that encourages cross-border import and export at minimum or no government subsidies, quotas, and restrictions. [6] When two countries have their advantages and disadvantages of international trade, each has a right to utilize their commodities and skills to increase the production of their goods for reaping the highest profits. [7]

If a country imposes unfair trade regulations, then another will risk its prosperity by accepting these regulations inviting national citizens’ sufferings.

As a result, international trade has exposed the global nations to massive competition, and some countries emerged as the winner and tough competitors. In contrast, some are exposed to the risk of foreign currency exchange barriers and unemployment. [8]

In 1974, Benjamin Franklin quoted that “no nation was ever ruined by trade, even seemingly the most disadvantageous.” [9] Trade paves the way to economic growth and strengthens the relationships among the nations by minimizing all sorts of cultural and regional barriers.

A government can develop its trade policy without the interference of another country. [10]It can lower its taxes, tariffs and invest in the international market smartly, restrict and reform its border security and attract global capital. [11]

The policies chosen by the nations for international trading can turn out to be prosperous for its citizens, local producers, employers, and farmers. On the contrary, it may also lead to the disaster of its economy.

In Elements of political economy, James Mill stated that a country’s benefit is derived from the imported goods and not from the exports as it is citizens already have access to its exported commodities. If a country exchanges goods with another country, it may receive those not locally available. [12]

However, foreign capital can bring unexpected challenges and risks. [13]According to the economist like Douglass Irwin, free trade is an ideal approach to international trade. [14] At first glance, the free trade policy appears to be fair and beneficial, but it also exposes domestic labor to international competition. [15]

Two countries intend to exchange goods, skills, techniques, and progress economically and intellectually. However, these close relationships increase competition and lead to many other issues such as price fall of domestic goods and force the domestic production to increase the efficiency matching the foreign standards.

In contrast, a unilateral trade policy may seem reasonable and the safest option to protect the national economy and jobs and improve efficiency in the global market. It enables a country to control the imports and exports from another country by implementing high tariffs, high duty and shipping prices, and restrictions on imports of certain products. [16]

Furthermore, it favors only one country’s economic wellbeing degrading another country’s rights to equal benefits and decisions. In simple words, one country reaps all the benefits of international trade, protects domestic labor and production, and increases its efficiency while compromising its economy, production, labor, and efficiency.

Recent studies suggest that the US’s current unilateral trade policies and China’s economic system impact the global trading system. [17] President Donald Trump spoke on free trade that “What we will no longer do is enter into large agreements that tie our hands, surrender our sovereignty, and make meaningful enforcement practically impossible.”

According to Trump, free trade binds a country’s decision-making process to control the import, exports, and economic progress. No matter free trade offers enormous benefits and opportunities to the consumers. Still, it also binds the national governments from reaping the desired profits for its domestic production, subjecting them to competitions. [18]

Figure 1: Share of U.S. Steel Imports by Country/Region (2017) (%)

Nations join together for mutual trade and welfare as it will reduce the barriers. A nation protects its domestic jobs, and another nation suffers from export costs. Global businesses suffer, likewise weakening each other’s economy. If a nation increases its optimal tariffs, it only tends to bother about its welfare subsiding another country’s welfare. [19]

It increases the cost of foreign taxes and reduces the profits of a domestic country. Suppose a domestic nation is affected by the highest tariffs. In that case, they may also retaliate and tend to elevate their tariffs, which in turn may suppress another nation, and the chain of protectionism continues to harm each other, leading to a hidden trade war. [20]

Suppose a foreign country imposes unilateral trade and restricts the imports from the domestic country but exports its goods within the domestic country. The domestic country has to pay for the imports in foreign currency, but how is that possible?

A foreign country has restricted imports from the domestic country. Having no choice but to export its commodities to another country with the same currency that would accept their imports can be a solution. [21]

It may sound easy, but what if another country also restricts imports or increases the optimum tariffs? It will disrupt the domestic country’s economy as it may struggle with foreign currency exchange and risk its production and economy to massive loss and suffering.

The world has recently witnessed a trade war between the US and China. [22] Today, these are the two dominant economic superpowers of the world. [23]

These nations increase tariffs on imported products from other trading partner countries; thus, consumers are forced to pay the highest prices while purchasing and importing goods from other countries.

In 2019, the US initiated the trade war against China by imposing the highest tariffs of around US$360 billion on Chinese commodities. However, this strategy backfired as China has also exchanged a blow of US$110 Billion increased on US imported goods. [24]

Unilateral free trade policy provides many benefits of free trade while protecting the national economy. [25] In this policy, the government of a country reduces taxes, tariffs, and restrictions on imports. It is not an official agreement, and it works on the mutual understanding and negotiation of the two countries. [26]

However, President Donald Trump tried hard and attempted to disrupt international trade, but the wheel of time has taken its turn, and the world is witnessing a massive global crisis. [27]

The widespread coronavirus has disrupted the peace, health, and economy of the world. The world as a whole is struggling and living through this pandemic. This crisis has provided an opportunity to help each other.

The world supply chains are suffering from a shortage of necessary life-saving equipment and medicines. [28]

Meanwhile, this pandemic has given a wake-up call to the governments and employers to rethink the trade relationships with other countries. Governments worldwide took measures to overcome this pandemic by restricting immigration, mobilization people globally. [29]

Supply chains are disrupted, and the Economists recalled the Great Depression of the 1930s and the financial crisis of 2008-09, comparing it with the current pandemic crisis. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) estimates global trade to decrease from 13% to 32% in 2020. [30]

Furthermore, some countries considered banning the exporting of medical aids from conserving it for their own citizens’ lives in response to the pandemic.

World Trade Centre stressed making the medical essential accessible globally. This could adversely affect the less developed nations relying on imports and not producing goods for consumption. [31]

Amid this crisis, the World Bank has issued guidelines addressing the global trading policies in response to the pandemic. It emphasized reducing the trade restrictions on essential commodities such as medicines, food, and medical equipment, eliminating the application and license process. It also stresses maintaining jobs and foreign exchange profits and partakes in the recovery of the world economy. [32]

Heeding to these guidelines is the necessity of the time if the countries squander this opportunity for protecting the only self economy, then it may bring a lot more adversities.

Britain is the only country among 17 European Union countries that do not use euros currency and maintains free trade from all these countries, paying all the taxes for being a member of the EU.[33]

Britain is not a member of the European Monetary Union (EMU). Europe imposes little price hikes over Britain, allowing it to trade freely only within the British market. [34] Europe intends to push Britain entirely out of the European Union.

Nobody can dispute the fact that these regulations are unconstitutional. Furthermore, many countries that are members of EMU are in debt. This crisis will continue until these countries leave EMU and reinstate and manage their currencies against the ‘euro’ and restore the competition. [35]

In his book “No harm,” Patrick Burke explains that “justice requires that governments allow buyers and sellers the freedom to make whatever agreements they wish, so long as they do not harm others.” [36]

He states that physical harm is the actual harm, and conditions like warfare increase the risk of physical harm destroying a nation’s assets. [37]

Barricades are barriers that put a nation at the risk of actual harm by destroying their access to international markets confining their import and export of goods. [38]

This kind of discrimination may not harm the domestic country, as it will remain in a similar state before the restrictions unless it allows import from the protectionist country. Instead, the country that discriminates against other countries and imposes restrictions on it is goods. That country is subjected to pay higher rates to access the same goods from other countries. [39]

The same case followed in China and exported its goods at lower costs subjecting its citizens to sufferings due to high optimal tariffs of the United States.[40]

Domestic countries should not allow trade and imports from protectionist countries that prohibit the imports of domestic countries. [41] Suppose a domestic country encourages the imports of such countries. In that case, their currency may circulate in the global market and be stuck in the foreign banks if they do not find the countries that accept their goods to exchange the currency(equal and similar to protectionist countries). [42]

The flourished countries always allow international trade on mutual agreement and profits instead of government policies. China has emerged as a growing global economic power during the pandemic. [43]

China was the first nation that reported the COVID-9 cases. Its foreign investments, supply chains, the capital flow have been increasing rapidly. These international trade controversies continued even before this pandemic crisis due to the unilateral policies imposed by the protectionist countries. [44]

After this crisis, countries worldwide are more likely to reboot their trading and manufacturing industries and conserve domestic commodities. [45] It would be beneficial for the future to strengthen the supply chains and help overcome circumstances like pandemics and scarcity of essential items. Nations may prefer conservative policies of global trade. [46]

The international unilateral trade policy will serve a nation’s economic interest as long as it focuses on building its trade policies considering its domestic production and balancing the healthy trading policies with other countries. [47]

It should never accept any unfair trade policies that can damage its productivity and economy. [48] It can be achieved by easing the restrictions on imports, tariffs, and service taxes. It will cater to the prosperity of the two without challenging and harming its economic efficiency. [49] Unilateral free trade is an excellent way of exchanging goods and services worldwide to maintain harmony and equality. [50] It may also serve to minimize barriers among nations, resolving many disputes.

Footnotes

1. Freeman, Richard B. “Globalisation of scientific and engineering talent: international mobility of students, workers, ideas, and the world economy.” Economics of Innovation and New Technology 19.5 (2010): 393-406.
2. Morgan, Robert E., and Constantine S. Katsikeas. “Theories of international trade, foreign direct investment and firm internationalization: a critique.” Management decision (1997).
3. Froning, Denise H. “The benefits of free trade: A guide for policymakers.” The Heritage Foundation Backgrounder 1391 (2000): 1-11.
4. Zeng, Ka. “Trade Structure and the Effectiveness of America’s “Aggressively Unilateral” Trade Policy.” International Studies Quarterly 46.1 (2002): 93-115.
5. Frankel, Jeffrey. “Global environment and trade policy.” Belfer Center Discussion Harvard Kennedy School Paper Series Discussion Paper (2009): 09-01.
6. Ohlin, Bertil. Interregional and international trade. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 1935
7. Zeng, Ka. “Trade Structure and the Effectiveness of America’s “Aggressively Unilateral” Trade Policy.” International Studies Quarterly 46.1 (2002): 93-115.
8. Stopford, John M., et al. Rival states, rival firms: Competition for world market shares. Vol. 18. Cambridge University Press, 1991.
9. Franklin, Benjamin. “Benjamin Franklin quotes.” Thinkexist. Com (2007).
10. Hufbauer, Gary Clyde, Jeffrey J. Schott, and Kimberly Ann Elliott. Economic sanctions reconsidered: History and current policy. Vol. 1. Peterson Institute, 1990.
11. Lal, Deepak. “Taxation and regulation as barriers to international investment flows.” The University of California, Department of Economics Working Paper 785 (1998).
12. Thurow, Lester C. Fortune favors the bold: What we must do to build a new and lasting global prosperity. Zondervan, 2009.
13. Mill, James. Elements of political economy. Baldwin, Cradock, and Joy, 1826.
14. Irwin, Douglas A. Free trade under fire. Princeton University Press, 2020.
15. Owen, Erica. “Exposure to offshoring and the politics of trade liberalization: debate and votes on free trade agreements in the US House of Representatives, 2001–2006.” International Studies Quarterly 61.2 (2017): 297-311.
16. Amiti, Mary, Stephen J. Redding, and David E. Weinstein. “The impact of the 2018 tariffs on prices and welfare.” Journal of Economic Perspectives 33.4 (2019): 187-210.
17. Williams, Nancy. “The resilience of protectionism in US trade policy.” BUL Rev. 99 (2019): 683.
18. Pauwelyn, Joost HB, Andrew Guzman, and Jennifer A. Hillman. International trade law. Wolters Kluwer Law & Business, 2016.
19. Ullah, Asad, Asadullah Aria, and Muhammad Nauman Akhter. “EU Trade Policy Amid US-China Trade Confrontation.” Journal of Social and Political Sciences 3.1 (2020).
20. Swanson, “Trump’s Trade Approach Diverges Sharply from Free Trade Republicans.” The Newyork Times (2017)
21. Knoke, David. Changing organizations: Business networks in the new political economy. Routledge, 2018.
22. Chong, Terence Tai Leung, and Xiaoyang Li. “Understanding the China-US trade war: causes, economic impact, and the worst-case scenario.” Economic and Political Studies 7.2 (2019): 185-202.
23. Fishman, Ted. China, Inc.: how the rise of the next superpower challenges America and the world. Simon and Schuster, 2005.
24. Bown, Chad P. “US-China Trade War: The Guns of August.” Trade and investment policy watch (2019).
25. Lake, David A. Power, protection, and free trade: International sources of US commercial strategy, 1887–1939. Cornell University Press, 2018.
26. McMillan, John. “A Game-theoretic view of international trade negotiations: implications for the developing countries.” Developing countries and the global trading system. Palgrave Macmillan, London, 1989. 26-44.
27. Fajgelbaum, Pablo D., et al. “The return to protectionism.” The Quarterly Journal of Economics 135.1 (2020): 1-55.
28. Wang, Huiyao, and Lu Miao. “Problems Faced by Globalizing Chinese Enterprises and Proposed Solutions.” The Globalization of Chinese Enterprises: Trends and Characteristics. Springer, Singapore, 2020. 19-46.
29. Foldvary, Fred E. “True Free Trade Is Still True.” American Journal of Economics and Sociology 79.1 (2020): 73-86.
30. Escaith, Hubert, Nannette Lindenberg, and Sébastien Miroudot. “Global value chains and the crisis: reshaping international trade elasticity.” Global Value Chains in a Postcrisis World: A Development Perspective. Washington: The World Bank (2010): 73-124.
31. McCrae, Niall, and M. L. R. Smith. “THE COVID-19 REVIEW.”
32. Xafis, Vicki.””What is Inconvenient for You is Life-saving for M”: How Health Inequities are playing out during the COVID-19 Pandemic” Asian Bioethics Review (2020): 1.
33. Garrett, Geoffrey.””The politics of legal integration in the European Union” International Organization 49.1 (1995): 171-181.
34. McNamara, Kathleen R. The currency of ideas: monetary politics in the European Union. Cornell University Press, 1998
35. Buti, Marco, and Nicolas Carnot.””The EMU debt crisis: Early lessons and reforms” JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies 50.6 (2012): 899-911.
36. Burke P. No Harm. Paragon House. 1998
37. Burke P. No Harm. Paragon House. 1998
38. Rock, David. Argentina, 1516-1982: from Spanish colonization to the Falklands War. Univ of California Press, 1985
39. Irwin, Douglas A.”The false promise of protectionism: WhyTrump’ss trade policy could backfire” Foreign Aff. 96 (2017): 45.
40. Chen, Chun-Hsien.””Explaining Different Enforcement Rates of Intellectual Property Protection in the United States, Taiwan, and The People’s Republic of China” Tul. J. Tech. & Intell. Prop. 10 (2007): 211.
41. McAtackney, Laura, and Randall H. McGuire, eds. Walling In and Walling Out: Why Are We Building New Barriers to Divide Us?. University of New Mexico Press Published, 2020.
42. Fontaine, François, Julien Martin, and Isabelle Mejean.””Price discrimination within and across EMU markets: Evidence from French exporters” Journal of International Economics (2020): 103300.
43. Fairbank, John King. The United States and China. Harvard University Press, 1983.
44. Guo, Jinggang, and Craig MT Johnston.”Do protectionist trade policies integrate domestic markets? Evidence from the Canada-US” Staff Working Paper 2020-10 2020 (2020): 1-20.
45. Makurumidze, Richard.””Coronavirus-19 Disease (COVID-19): a case series of early suspects reported and the implications towards the response to the pandemic in Zimbabwe” Journal of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infection (2020).
46. Baldwin, Richard, and Eiichi Tomiura.”Thinking ahead about the trade impact of COVID-19″ Economics in the Time of COVID-19 59 (2020)
47. Tyson, Laura D’Andrea.Who’s bashing whom?: trade conflict in high-technology industries. Peterson Institute, 1993.
48. Nivola, Pietro S. Regulating unfair trade. Brookings Institution Press, 2010.
49. Barnes, Douglas F., and Willem M. Floor.”Rural energy in developing countries: a challenge for economic development1″ Annual review of energy and the environment 21 (1996). 50. Bhagwati, Jagdish N. Free trade today. Princeton University Press, 2003.

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