TOPIC: 1st grade ( 2014-1 )
Do the benefits of free trade outweigh the disadvantages?
POINTS:
Competition
Consumers
Economic growth
Environmental concerns
International relations
Tradition and culture
I believe that free trade is beneficial in most cases, and import taxes and duties do more harm than good to countries around the world.
First, free trade allows consumers in import countries to buy things at lower prices. Although some may argue that free trade can hurt the local economies, driving small businesses to go bankrupt, consumers are encouraged to purchase cheap imported items, which can boost the local economy in the long term. Also, domestic manufacturers can import low materials or parts of items produced by other countries at low prices. As a result, they can make finished products cheaper, which can attract domestic consumers, improving the local economy.
Second, free trade promotes good international relations with other countries, which postively affects the local economy. For example, when a country choose free trade, they are less like to face trade barriers imposed from other nations. This means the country benefits from increased export trade. While nations in European Union keep relatively good international relation, the United States often has conflicts with China because of high import taxes and duties.
Finally, competition created by free trade also benefits many industries. Demestic companies start to focus on their speciality in order to survive in a global economy. For example, while companies in developing countries focus on agriculture, those in developed nations specialize in manufacturing prodcuts which require high technology,expertise, such as computers or other electric appliances. In this way, all the nations in the world benefit from free trade and boost the entire world economy.
For these reasons, I believe the advantages created by free trade far outweigh the disadvantages.
[ Agree ]
1. import
benefit comsumers / manufacturers
( buy things at low prices ) --- bost the local economy in the long run
2. export
good relations -- no trade barriers -- sell more things in other nations
3. competition
focus on speciality to survive in a global economy
better products attract more consumers
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