What Is Free Trade? An Adaptation of Frederic Bastiat's "Sophismes Éconimiques" Designed for the American Reader

"What Is Free Trade?" by Frédéric Bastiat is an exploration of economic policy arguing for open markets and against trade restrictions. It begins by questioning why scarcity is often favored over abundance, diving into a critique of tariffs and protectionist measures that limit trade. The author suggests that these policies, intended to help domestic producers, actually hurt consumers and impede economic growth. The writing challenges the idea that restricting imports benefits everyone, claiming that these actions mainly help specific industries while harming the economy as a whole. The treatise sets the stage for a discussion of the advantages of free trade.