Question

If trade barriers hurt the average worker in an economy (due to lower wages), why does the government create trade barriers?

Short answer

To protect the domestic industry and hence the jobs of people dependent on it.

Step-by-step solution

Step1. Introduction

Trade barriers are methods which are taken up to protect the domestic industry from the foreign competition.

Step2. Explanation

Trade barriers although reduce the average wages in the country, it still is important to impose them because it is important to protect the domestic industries to let them grow and develop and become self reliant. It is also important to protect the jobs of the workers working in this domestic industry.