system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: What are free trade agreements

How come we still have to pay large tariffs and duty on countries where we have free trade? I went to France and bought a wheel of eppoisses cheese for like 4 euro. But if I want to buy it where I am in Canada now it's around 20 dollars. How can average people benefit from these agreements because I really don't think they do.
gpt
Free trade agreements are contracts between countries that allow goods to be imported without tarrifs or with reduced tarrifs. In the case of two countries with similar economies they allow goods to be imported cheaper and the cost savings are theoretically passed onto the consumer increasing purchasing power and economic output. With developing countries it tends to be a mechanism to lower manufacturing costs then import the goods back without penalties. CETA, Canada and Europe's potential trade deal has not been finalized so you are still paying for the cost of the tarrifs. That's why it's more in Canada.