No Trade is Free: Changing Course, Taking on China, and Helping America's Workers

The author of "No Trade Is Free", Robert Lighthizer, is a former U.S. Trade Representative. In this book, he argues that the prevailing "free trade" policies have harmed American workers and manufacturing, citing decades of trade deficits with countries like China, Japan, and in Europe. Lighthizer contends that China's non-market economy and unfair practices pose a significant economic threat to the United States. He discusses his experience under the Reagan administration and extensively details the Trump administration's efforts to reorient U.S. trade policy, particularly the renegotiation of NAFTA into the USMCA and the use of tariffs against China. The author also criticizes the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its dispute settlement system, viewing it as detrimental to U.S. interests. Ultimately, the book advocates for a worker-focused trade policy aimed at strengthening American industry and creating well-paying jobs.