The article challenges the common belief that World Trade Organization (WTO) and Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) boost economic openness. It argues against the idea that more trade agreements mean more beneficial outcomes for economies. Despite the widespread notion that cutting trade barriers leads to better economic gains and encourages competition and specialization, the article disputes these assumptions. It criticizes the belief that trade agreements increase the freedom to trade and dismisses the notion that they effectively promote genuine free trade. Ultimately, the article suggests that viewing trade agreements as strong promoters of free trade might be misleading and overly optimistic.