the argument that industries must be protected from foreign competition while they are young, until they have a chance to acquire the skills to enable them to compete on equal terms

"The view that "temporary protection" for a new industry or firm in a particular country through tariff and non-tariff barriers to imports can help it to become established and eventually competitive in world markets."

the agreement that infant industries are usually not competitive with established industries in other countries and may need to be protected against oversees competition in order to survive

The infant industry argument is a rationale for the “temporary protection” of a new industry or firm in order to help it become established domestically and later become competitive worldwide. These protections consist of tariff and non-tariff barriers to imports, preventing global competition from entering the market.

The infant industry argument is an economic reason for protectionism.