U.S. Trade Deals More Interior Design Than Hedge-Trimming

Published November 15, 2006

The conventional wisdom in the aftermath of last week's U.S. elections is that free trade is in for a rougher ride than Kevin Federline's career prospects.

Many of the Democrats who defeated Republican incumbents in the House and Senate are being portrayed as economic "populists"–concerned about the hollowing out of the U.S. manufacturing base, and skeptical of new trade agreements being pursued by...