What does protectionism aim to achieve?

Protectionism aims to restrict imports from other countries to enhance domestic industries and protect local jobs. This is typically achieved through measures such as tariffs, quotas, and import bans. By making foreign products more expensive or less available, protectionism seeks to create a more favorable competitive environment for domestic producers, allowing them to grow and become more profitable.

Encouraging foreign investments or lowering tariffs on exported goods runs counter to the objectives of protectionism, as these actions would generally promote a more open market rather than restrict it. Promoting free trade agreements also contradicts the principles of protectionism, which focuses on safeguarding domestic industries from international competition rather than encouraging international trade relationships. Thus, the correct focus of protectionism is indeed on limiting imports.