Protectionism is a knee-jerk reaction
I see as much of this sentiment on the Right as I do on the Left. A desire to raise trade barriers shows an ignorance of the larger economic picture. It also shows an ignorance of history. Odd that so many who are now sneering about Herbert Hoover's administration seem to forget Smoot-Hawley.
(Smoot-Hawley, in the interest of full disclosure, was originally a Republican bill.)