Episode 725: Trade Show : Planet Money On today's show: The fight over free trade. Come for the man who dreamed of world peace through trade. Stay for Robert Smith in the mean streets of Seattle.

Episode 725: Trade Show

Episode 725: Trade Show

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/495226796/495269185" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press
Trade is the one thing that Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump seem to agree on.
Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

It's been a rough year for people who believe in free trade. In June, the UK decided to leave the European Union—the biggest free trade block in the world. A potential trade deal between the U.S. and Europe seems to be falling apart. And the Trans-Pacific Partnership — a trade deal between the U.S. and 10 other countries — has two very prominent opponents: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

On today's show, we pack 240 years of trade history into 22 minutes. There's a Scotsman who was captured by gypsies (possibly), a man who dreamed of world peace (truly), and Robert Smith in the streets with revolutionaries (sort of).

Music: "Funky Festivities" and "Chilltown." Find us: Twitter/Facebook.