>>".. free trade is the keystone of classical economics.
"It is so clear, so obvious, so indisputable, that its opponents were unable to advance any arguments against it that could not be immediately refuted as
"completely mistaken and absurd." -- Ludwig von Mises

>>There is just no reason for NZ to go without cotton or automobiles or bananas because they are produced overseas.
>>And amazingly enough, according to Wikipedia in New Zealand:
>>Rogernomics.. free-market economy that can compete globally. This growth has boosted real incomes, broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the >>industrial sector, and contained inflationary pressures."

NZ is your example, so can you please connect your assertions to this: http://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/release_full.cfm?id=323028

The "un-level playing field" is that New Zealand's pastures allow production of first-rate dairy products more cheaply than anybody else on the planet. Especially Idaho. Therefore it's necessary to protect US dairy interests from the effects of free trade by NZ.

Put that in your "econ 101" pipe and smoke it. ;) A cynic might observe that behind all the slogans and quotations from economists who lived in a different era, in real life "free trade" means wanting to be able to export high-value goods without tariffs or quotas while protecting local providers from strong overseas producers, in the interests of fairness and a level playing field.