In defence of free trade | Politics UK

Reem Ibrahim wrote for the Chamber UK magazine in defence of free trade.

She wrote:

"In any market, competition is imperative. Businesses compete for customers, and those competitive pressures drive them to innovate.

"Customers can make choices depending on the price, quality of the product, or a myriad of other factors, and businesses are rewarded for providing a good product or service.

"Businesses that do not convince enough customers to make an exchange, fail. This competitive process drives innovation, expands choice for consumers, and ensures that resources are allocated efficiently.

"The exact same principles are true of international trade.

Some countries can make things more cheaply than in other countries. Whether it is because they have lower labour costs, or because they naturally have more of a particular resource, or some other reason, trading with other countries often means we can access things that are made more cheaply, lowering the cost of living.

"The real benefits of free exchange come when these exchanges are made, and when supply chains themselves are able to transcend borders."

Read the full article in the Chamber UK magazine, or online at Politics UK.