Is it the least bad option, though? I'm no expert but I think the argument goes that by allowing free trade we create links between societies, as well as offer

Is it the least bad option, though? I'm no expert but I think the argument goes that by allowing free trade we create links between societies, as well as offering more opportunities for putting political pressure for change (even if change is far slower than the people suffering under those regimes deserve) vs the alternative of North Korea style alienation? Is there a better option? The US+allies could kill those authoritarian leaders, invade those countries, "liberate" the people, etc etc but that doesn't exactly have a great track record for improving the countries invaded...