[vinay427]

Not the answer you're looking for, but French protectionism (agriculture, film, etc.) is consistently stronger than the Western norm in the rest of Europe and the US. In those cases it is to protect domestic interests, which of course comes with its own consequences.

[ptaipale]

Consequences, like that the last time France had annual budget surplus was in 1974.

[seszett]

A time when France was a lot more protectionist and interventionist than today, actually.

[ptaipale]

Like all countries were; however, economic growth has been since stimulated by opening trade.