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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: GST who wrote (197542)	8/15/2006 4:47:11 PM
From: TimF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

I do think international organizations and arrangements have been a net benefit for free trade, because many countries are only willing to open their markets if others return the favor, but trade can be free without these institutions and in fact has been relatively free trade in some situations without any multinational institutions like the WTO or even the earlier GATT. Unlilateral free trade is beneficial even if the other country doesn't reciprocate, or if the political situation won't support unilateral free trade, simple trade deals are possible without any large organization.