International trade is one of the most effective drivers of economic growth. International trade allows countries to specialise in sectors where they have comparative advantage, increasing the size of the available market for producers and lowering prices for consumers. In consequence, trade allows countries to make far more efficient use of their resources than if they were closed off to the world.

Trade is often portrayed as a zero-sum game (you lose by importing, I win by exporting). In fact it is a strongly positive-sum game - both imports and exports provide benefits. This makes trade a powerful tool for international development. By opening their markets to goods from developing countries, the first world can help lift millions of people out of poverty, while consumers and producers benefit from inexpensive goods and inputs.

Unfortunately, the fundamental economic dynamics behind trade are often misunderstood or ignored. Below, you will find links to information on how trade works, why it matters and why countries like the United States and the United Kingdom should continue to push for open and global markets. 

Trade Matters

A report on trade and development by the UK Department for International Development (DFID)

Is Trade Good for Growth?

A short paper reaffirming the link between trade and economic growth in developing countries

Liberalisation and Globalisation: Maximising the Benefits of International Trade and Investment (especially Ch. 5, beginning on page 81)