The underlying point is that thinking solely in terms of free trade vs laissez faire is a somewhat old fashioned world view when capital is bouncing around the planet at near instantaneous speeds.

I agree and would go one step further to add "interest groups" and hence politics to the whole equation.  The US, for example, champions free trade in the information and knowledge intensive sectors while showing itself very reluctant (along with Europe) to do the same in the agricultural sector (which is of prime importance to many poor developing countries).

"Beware of the man who does not talk, and the dog that does not bark." Cheyenne