In its coverage of the last pre-Iowa Democratic debate, NPR felt the need to repeatedly refer to the trade policies pursued over the last quarter century as "free-trade" policies even though this is not true. These policies only liberalized some forms of trade. More educated workers like doctors lawyers, and NPR reporters still enjoy substantial protection from international competition. These trade deals also increased protectionist barriers in the form of patent and copyright protection. The main focus of trade liberalization over this period was to remove barriers to importing manufactured goods, which had the effect of putting less educated (non-college educated) workers into direct competition with low-paid workers in the developing world. The main beneficiaries of these trade deals have been the most highly educated workers, who remain largely protected from international competition. (Profit shares have not increased, as lower labor costs were largely passed on in lower prices.) It would be more accurate if NPR referred to recent trade deals as "trade agreements we like" than "free-trade" agreements.
--Dean Baker
