Both the free trade area and the customs union deal with tariffs and trade. However, they differ in many ways. Others agree that the environment is another victim of free trade. Simply put, you can`t have free trade and “save the planet,” says Alf Hornborg, a professor of human ecology at Lund University in Lund, Sweden, noting that if there is free trade and tariffs and quotas are eliminated, monopolies will also be eliminated because more players can come to join the market. A better solution than protectionism is to include in trade agreements provisions that protect against inconvenience. Free trade is designed to remove unfair barriers to global trade and stimulate the economies of both developed and developing countries. But free trade can – and does – have many negative effects, including deplorable working conditions, job losses, economic damage to some countries, and environmental damage around the world. Nevertheless, the World Trade Organization remains committed to free and unhindered trade, to the detriment of some economies and millions of workers. The pros and cons of free trade agreements affect jobs, business growth and living standards: “Trade is responsible for two out of ten job losses. What is happening is that the other eight are not lost because of trade, but because of new technologies, innovation, increased productivity. An internal market essentially creates a level playing field for each member and includes not only tradable products and goods, but also allows the citizens of each Member State to work freely throughout the territory. Nevertheless, the WTO says it does not consider a manufacturer`s treatment of workers as a reason for countries to ban the import of products from that manufacturer. The WTO notes that developing countries insist that any attempt to include working conditions in trade agreements should end their cost advantage in the global market.
If this argument for free trade continues, workers around the world will pay the price. The basic concepts of free trade agreements and free trade areas include: Despite all the advantages that a free trade area brings, there are also some corresponding disadvantages, including: Free trade agreements are intended to increase trade between two or more countries. Increasing international trade has the following six main advantages: The good thing about a free trade area is that it promotes competition, which consequently increases a country`s efficiency in being on an equal footing with its competitors. Products and services then become of better quality without being too expensive. “The U.S. trade balance with Mexico has been negative and has grown steadily over the years. In 2010, it was $61.6 billion, representing 9.5% of the total goods trade deficit (2009). The candidate at the time, Donald Trump, promised during his campaign to end the United States` participation in NAFTA. As president, Trump negotiated a new three-circle pact to replace NAFTA, announcing in October 2018 that NAFTA would be replaced by the USMCA – the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement. It remains to be seen how effective this new agreement will be in mitigating some of the effects of barrier-free trade. Outsourcing jobs in developing countries can become a trend with a free trade area.
Because there are no occupational health and safety laws in many countries, workers can be forced to work in unhealthy and low-quality work environments. Environmental protection measures can prevent the destruction of natural resources and crops. Labour laws prevent poor working conditions. The World Trade Organization enforces the regulations on free trade agreements. Although Azevêdo has argued that other factors are responsible for 80% of job losses worldwide, it should be noted that the director of the world`s largest free trade advocate acknowledged that 20% of all job losses on the planet are caused by free trade. .