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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On top of that, at least 40% of the critical minerals used in the battery must come from the U.S. or a country with a U.S. free trade agreement, or from materials recycled in North America. Melanie Marshall, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025 Trump announced last week that Mexico and the U.S. plan to extend their current deal (by which the country to the South pays 25-percent tariffs on goods not covered by the free trade agreement), by three months to leave breathing room for further talks. Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 4 Aug. 2025 Canberra has not been publicly known to be in trade talks with Washington, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reportedly arguing that Australia’s deficit with the U.S. and its free trade agreement should mean there should be no tariff on Australian imports. Lim Hui Jie,sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 31 July 2025 But Trump did launch a trade war with China, which marked a significant tariff escalation that ran counter to decades of free trade consensus. Phil Mattingly, CNN Money, 31 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for free trade

Word History

First Known Use

1766, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of free trade was in 1766

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Cite this Entry

“Free trade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/free%20trade. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

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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