Not that we as communists give a single shit about “free market competition”, there is nothing wrong with a weaker nation using protectionist measures (although we must be clear about the fact that sanctions are not protectionism, they are the polar opposite, they are aggressive economic hybrid warfare) to prevent a stronger one overrunning their economy, but it shows the hypocrisy of their own neoliberal “free trade” mantra.

My understanding is that the "free market" is to prevent foreign nations from developing their economies by means of import-substitution industrialization, for the sake of domestic monopolies taking over the foreign nations' economies, like a parasite, and turning them into rent-extracting hosts.

In that case, it's in the interests of all peoples of the globe to reject this form of neo-colonialism—not just communists.