International trade has hugely benefited the US; efforts to hamper it would needlessly hurt growth, argues Robert Krol of US News. On average, each American citizen’s income is around $7000 higher because of liberalized trade with other countries. The current administration’s rules to reduce exchanges with other countries will hurt the US economy first and foremost. Free trade relies on being efficient and easy. Even just the fear of future restrictions can choke deals that would have been valuable. In particular, investment in the US would suffer. Trade has played a huge part in making it the great country it is today.