Trade Is Necessary for Prosperity with Bryan Riley | Let People Prosper Show Ep. 161

​Is trade a tool of the elite—or the secret weapon of everyday Americans?

On this week’s Let People Prosper Show, I sit down with Bryan Riley, Director of the Free Trade Initiative at the National Taxpayers Union. Bryan has spent his career fighting for economic freedom and debunking the myths that protectionists love to spread—especially the idea that trade makes us weaker or poorer.

This episode is a crash course in real-world trade economics. We unpack NAFTA’s lasting legacy, challenge the narrative around trade deficits, and dismantle the idea that tariffs are a smart negotiating tool. Bryan argues that free trade embodies freedom in action—the ability for individuals to choose, compete, and prosper without government interference.
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(0:00) – Introduction to Trade Policy and Free Markets
(8:54) – The Impact of NAFTA and Trade Agreements
(19:39) – Political Shifts: Protectionism vs. Free Trade
(27:01) – Tariffs as a Negotiating Tool
(29:53) – The Impact of Free Trade on American Workers
(32:49) – Manufacturing and Economic Infatuation
(35:48) – The Golden Rule of Trade Policy
(38:37) – The Consequences of Tariffs on Industries
(41:20) – Understanding Trade Deficits
(44:18) – The Misconceptions of Trade and Investment
(47:25) – Optimism for Future Trade Policies