Which statement best describes the impact of free trade on competition and efficiency?

• A. It reduces competition and lowers efficiency
• B. It increases competition and can raise efficiency
• C. It eliminates all inefficiencies
• D. It guarantees government price controls

Answer: (B)

Free trade opens markets and invites more players into competition. That greater competitive pressure forces firms to cut costs, improve quality, and innovate, which pushes resources toward their most productive uses and tends to raise overall efficiency. It doesn’t eliminate every inefficiency—there can be adjustment costs and lingering distortions—but the main effect is to boost competition and potential efficiency gains. It also doesn’t guarantee government price controls; instead, free trade often reduces reliance on such interventions while governments may still regulate in other ways.