Free Trade vs Protectionism

[Yelnoc]

Protectionism for export-based countries, Free Trade for import...based (you know what I mean) economies.

[Yelnoc]

Protectionism for export-based countries, Free Trade for import...based (you know what I mean) economies.

That almost seems backwards.  The best argument for protectionism is when you have a country that is flooded with imports and you want to encourage domestic industry. If you have an exporting economy already, protectionism's tendency to start trade wars will be more damaging.

Yeah I should have said "if you [want] to have..."  My bad.

[Yelnoc]

Protectionism for export-based countries, Free Trade for import...based (you know what I mean) economies.

That almost seems backwards.  The best argument for protectionism is when you have a country that is flooded with imports and you want to encourage domestic industry. If you have an exporting economy already, protectionism's tendency to start trade wars will be more damaging.

Yeah I should have said "if you [want] to have..."  My bad.

I'm not sure what you're saying then.

Tariffs should be used to foster home grown industry, while free trade should be supported if one's economy is not export-based.

[Yelnoc]

Protectionism for export-based countries, Free Trade for import...based (you know what I mean) economies.

That almost seems backwards.  The best argument for protectionism is when you have a country that is flooded with imports and you want to encourage domestic industry. If you have an exporting economy already, protectionism's tendency to start trade wars will be more damaging.

Yeah I should have said "if you [want] to have..."  My bad.

I'm not sure what you're saying then.

Tariffs should be used to foster home grown industry, while free trade should be supported if one's economy is not export-based.

I don't see the distinction here.  If your economy isn't focused on exporting goods, it's probably focusing on home grown industry for home markets, right?  What kind of economy is neither, where you think free trade should be supported?

A service-based economy.