First we consider the arguments usually given for protection. From what we've seen in the previous sections, it seems as if trade could only be a good thing, so why would any country want to restrict it and deny itself the obvious gains from trade? Some of the reasons most frequently given for being pro-restriction of trade are:

To prevent domestic workers from losing jobs to cheap foreign labor.
To allow new industries to grow.
To prevent dependency on imported products.
To protect against unfair trade practices by foreign producers.
To protest domestic policy in foreign countries.
To protest production methods in foreign countries.
To protest lax environmental concerns in foreign countries.

On the next few pages we will consider each of these, briefly stating some of the arguments both for and against these specific arguments, and in general arguments Pro and Con trade restrictions.