ECONOMIC GLOBALIZATION AND BARRIERS TO INTERNATIONAL TRADE: THE ROLE OF PROTECTIONIST POLICIES

Abstract

This article analyzes the relationship between economic globalization and barriers to international trade, highlighting the role of protectionist policies in the current configuration of global exchanges. The research, based on bibliographic and documentary sources, adopts a qualitative approach to examine recent transformations in global trade and their effects on emerging economies. The main types of non-tariff barriers are discussed, such as technical, sanitary, and environmental requirements, as well as the use of trade defense instruments recognized by the World Trade Organization, including antidumping, countervailing measures, and safeguards. The study also addresses financial mechanisms that support exporters and industrial policies focused on competitiveness, showing that protection and innovation can coexist in balance. The findings indicate that protectionism, when applied with transparency and proportionality, can strengthen domestic production without violating the principles of economic liberalization. It concludes that the integration of multilateral regulation, industrial policy, and trade defense represents a fundamental path toward sustainable international trade.