protectionist

comparative more protectionist · superlative most protectionist

1. Of or pertaining to protectionism, or an advocate thereof.

   The "national security" grounds were gauzy at best; the 232 tariffs were classically protectionist.

   2020 June 23, John Bolton, The Room Where It Happened, →ISBN, page 185

   2 more examples

   This is because most member countries still hold a very much protectionist stance when it comes to the service sector.

   2008, International Transport Forum, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, SourceOECD (Online service), 17th International ITF/OECD Symposium on Transport Economics and Policy: benefiting from globalisation : transport sector contribution and policy challenges : introductory reports and summary of discussion : 25-27 October 2006, Berlin, →ISBN, page 171

   While protectionist policies, with its tariffs on imports and wholesale rejection of globalism, are often justified on the grounds of supporting domestic industries, preserving jobs, and enhancing national security, they also carry significant downsides, particularly for the most economically vulnerable populations.

   2024 March 20, Veronique de Rugy, “The Political Right Has Luxury Beliefs, Too”, in Reason

   Synonyms: protectionistic, illiberal, procontrol

plural protectionists

1. Someone who believes in protecting domestic producers by impeding or limiting the importation of foreign goods and services via actions taken by government.

   Vance is now a key messenger for Trump’s economic agenda as the administration pursues sweeping new protectionists policies announced on what they deemed “Liberation Day.”

   2025 April 4, Andrew Kaczynski and Em Steck, “‘The policy may very well fail’: JD Vance doubted Trump’s first-term trade policies, previously bashed tariffs”, in CNN, archived from the original on 14 Aug 2025

   1 more example

   It also would cut deeply into the trans-Atlantic alliance at the worst possible time by giving anti-American, anti-capitalist nationalists and protectionists in Europe a platform to thrive. Anti-American sentiment will grow, and Europe risks a retreat to protectionism. Those of us who make the case for the trans-Atlantic alliance will have a much harder job.

   2019 February 21, Guy Verhofstadt, “A Trump trade war with Europe would hurt the trans-Atlantic relationship”, in CNN

2. A linguistic purist.