Trade

Since The Times is such a great free-trade exponent, I suggest you should monitor the articles relating to trade more carefully. I refer to the article (Aug. 2), “Tandon Lays Off 270; Shuts Plant, Predicts Big Loss.”

The last paragraph in the article has the following sentence: “In closing the San Jose plant, Tandon is consolidating all of its disk-drive manufacturing in Singapore and India, where parts and labor are cheaper.” Chalk up another victory for free trade. Perhaps free trade should be called by a more accurate designation--cheap labor trade.

JACK MARGOLIN

Marina del Rey