Free trade greatly expands the government by forcing millions out of good paying jobs and turning them into dependent citizen...needing health care, food stamps and even housing...the more unemployed people depend on the government, the more control the government will have...take it to the bank...not Citi of course.
Is that why we have fewer jobs than we did before NAFTA?
Protectionism expands government, allows government to pick winners and losers and increases costs for Americans.
Reducing government power over trade reduces government power. Increasing government power over trade increases government power. That's simple enough for even a liberal like you to understand.