A trade surplus is not evidence of protectionism. The most common metric to measure protectionism (in as far as it can be measured statistically) is the Weighte

A trade surplus is not evidence of protectionism. The most common metric to measure protectionism (in as far as it can be measured statistically) is the Weighted Mean Tariff Rate. Compare the EU at 1.48% to the US at 1.52% - the EU is slightly lower and both are among the lowest in the world, certainly of the large economies. It's literal misinformation to say that the EU is more protectionist than the US. It was a Trump talking point, and never based in fact. EU: https://tradingeconomics.com/european-union/tariff-rate-applied-weighted-mean-all-products-percent-wb-data.html https://tradingeconomics.com/european-union/tariff-rate-appl... US: https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/tariff-rate-applied-weighted-mean-all-products-percent-wb-data.html https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/tariff-rate-appli...