From an economic perspective, studies of the costs of trade barriers show that they

A) are outweighed by the reduction in foreign competition provided by the barriers.
B) are much less than benefits for domestic producers and workers.
C) are about equal to the benefits from trade barriers.
D) far exceed their benefits for society.

Trade barriers, such as tariffs and quotas, often result in higher prices for consumers and inefficiencies in the market. While they may protect certain domestic industries in the short term, the overall economic consensus is that the costs to society, including reduced competition and higher prices, far exceed the benefits. These barriers can also lead to retaliatory measures from other countries, further harming trade and economic growth.