As the U.S. finds itself increasingly intertwined with its global partners, keeping alive its commitment to free trade will prove crucial to future expansion. The world owes much of its current prosperity to postwar efforts aimed at dismantling commercial barriers; over the last five years, international trade has led to economic growth, climbing at an average rate of 6.4 percent, compared with a 3.1 percent in world production and consumption. But efforts to open markets further have slowed as many countries have moved to protect endangered industries. The U. S. has been guilty as well, restricting imports of automobiles, steel and textiles. Any rebound in trade deficits may make new protectionist measures hard to resist. While Washington needs outside cooperation to solve economic problems, its enthusiasm for working with other nations has always waxed and waned. The low point was reached during President Reagan’s terms, when foreign governments voiced alarm over the over buoyant (增长过快的) dollar and America’s budget deficit, the administration shrugged off the complaints with a lecture on supply-side economics. on balance, though, the recent trend has been toward closer consultation among the U. S. arid its principal trading partners, particularly on intervention in world currency markets to stabilize exchange rates. If anything, the importance of multilateral negotiation seems destined to grow as the world’s economic geography continues to change. For instance, Japan, already flush with funds, is poised to assume a larger financial role in such global organizations as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. And the Maastricht Treaty to integrate the European Union will further reshape the global order. Where America technological know-how and marketing power once dominated world markets, Americans now find themselves jockeying for business amid a throng of muscular new rivals. The U.S. must learn to compete as one among equals or fall behind. According to the passage, what is the role of the U.S. in regard to protectionism

A. The U. S. is an advocate of protectionism
B. The U. S. is a victim of protectionism
C. The U. S. resists protectionism
D. The U. S. opposes but also practices protectionism