The United States practices free trade but it's not completely without restrictions. The country participates in trade agreements like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which help lower the costs and barriers such as tariffs that typically make trading between countries more expensive and complicated. This is a clear effort to promote free trade by making it easier and cheaper to exchange goods with countries like Canada and Mexico. However, the United States also uses strategies that aren't fully aligned with free trade principles. For instance, as mentioned in the lectures, the use of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) allows U.S. companies to set up operations in other countries to bypass tariffs or reduce costs, which isn't a direct way of trading goods but rather a strategic move to optimize trade conditions. This shows that while the U.S. supports the idea of free trade, it also employs measures to protect its economic interests. Overall, the U.S. tries to support free trade where possible but also puts measures in place to protect its economy. This balancing act means that while there is significant support for free trade, it is not without its limitations and strategic interventions