Open markets are reality.
Import duties on most goods have been reduced so much during 50 years of trade liberalization that the discounts at the duty-free shop are almost insignificant. Beyond a doubt, there is a consensus among the vast majority of economists, policymakers, and executives that open markets are a boon for growth, and that no country can thrive in the long run unless it is a full part of the global economy. Even Asia's financial crisis serves as a startling example of how the same global economic system that arguably helped cause the problem is helping it go away faster and with less pain. After a disastrous 1998, Asia has staged an export-led rebound in 1999. But free trade has also left many workers, industries, and nations feeling victimized.