Name one country other than the US, on this globe that is not 'protectionist' in its function. These so called 'free-traders' are on the hunt for no regulations and slave labor. AND the majority of our elected politicians only care about their reelection and are willing to sell 'we the people' to the highest 'free trader' slave hunter.
These so called 'free-trade' agreements are in theory suppose to counterbalance government setting a minimum wage. IF our elected officials really are about 'free-markets' they would start here in this nation and end the practice of them setting the minimum wage scale. But, no unions are big time contributors to the libs and the so called republicans will not challenge them on their base reelection support.
Generally, the countries around the globe with freer markets do better in most if not all measures than their more protectionist counterparts.