Yes, the text far from even trying to be objective (maybe "economist" is he who "explains" but it's not economy that is in the text), it's full of merely unsubstantiated "common motifs" that float in the US-centric media and are more product of propaganda or the need to have some "feel good" simple "explanation" than even try to understand the forces present in our world.

The economists actually learn that US had very strong protectionist policy for its own economy and that it actually helped. Free market is mostly an expression used for something that is used to sell your stuff to other nations or to allow your companies enter some market.