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FREE TRADE

Trade between nations that is conducted on free market principles, without tariffs, import quotas or other restrictive regulations. Free trade, especially with the United States, has been controversial throughout post -confederation Canadian history and has been widely distrusted as likely to lead to Canada playing the role of resource provider to a more advanced US manufacturing and service economy. Since 1989, when a Free Trade Agreement with the United States was introduced, Canadian opinion has tended to become more supportive of this policy especially in light of the general globalization of trade and international communication. Since the initial free trade agreement there is growing consensus that there has been an economic (and to some extent social) integration of the two nations. In 1993, Canada, the United States and Mexico entered into a trilateral free trade agreement: the North American Free Trade Agreement. See: CONTINENTALISM / DEPENDENT DEVELOPMENT / METROPOLIS-HINTERLAND THEORY / STAPLE TRAP.

Last updated 2002--0-9-

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© Robert Drislane, Ph.D. and Gary Parkinson, Ph.D.
The online version of this dictionary is a product of
Athabasca University and
ICAAP

*This social science dictionary has 1000
entries covering the disciplines of sociology, criminology, political
science and women's study with a commitment to Canadian examples and
events and names