Free Trade - Is it worth it?

I sent an email to Mr. Rick Salutin and Mr. David Olive commenting on the column Mr. Saludin published in the Toronto Star today. Mr. Salutin discussed the results of 'free' trade agreements that have been implemented to the distress of many mature economies including the USA and Canada. Mr. Olive also wrote a column this morning speaking positively for the Trans Pacific Partnership trade agreement that he thinks will benefit our economies. Apparently the US House disagrees in spite of the endorsement of Obama and the Senate. Mr. Saludin's piece is shown below, I hope he doesn't mind me posting it here.
First my email;

"Sirs

In my estimation Mr. Salutin's column in the Star today presented a clear and concise disclosure of the disruptive reality of 'free' trade. I was an engineer during the prosperous years from about 1960 to 1990. We built factories and designed new products that competed in many markets. It ended when foreign, then mainly European, corporations took over, shuttered factories, assumed our technology and stopped local design and development.

Mr. Salutin is correct, there is no free trade but it is controlled trade. Controlled by privileged corporations, bankers and hedge fund managers with little or no respect for the population that consume their products.

I am glad some European countries are hesitant about the proposed European Free Trade agreement Mr. Harper is keen to sign. It will not benefit Canada no matter what our government wants us to believe."