EU populists echo Trump's protectionist rhetoric

Dublin

AFTER decades of dismantling barriers, Europe is finding free trade comes with political tariffs.

For all the focus on the backlash against migrant workers, research by two academics shows the regions of Europe hit by cheaper imports and related job losses are fertile ground for groups that echo US President Donald Trump's protectionist rhetoric.

From the Netherlands, through eastern France, northern Italy and parts of Austria, support for populist parties that have transformed the political landscape is among the strongest.

"There is a significant link between how exposed regions are to Chinese imports and support for radical right parties," sai…