Liberal in economics and Liberal in US politics mean two very distinct and different things. It's like the way a 'runner' in a race is different to a 'runner' in a restaurant. They're not the same things at all.

Economic liberalism means free trade and deregulation. If it makes money, it's good. Neoliberalism is also referred to as 'hypercapitalism'.

'Liberal' in US politics means 'left of the GOP' and is its own unique thing. It bears no relation to economic liberalism at all. The two may coincide but they're independent of one another.