As the UK aims to leave the European Union and make its way as a trading nation across the world, international trade secretary Liam Fox may want to spend some time worrying about the protectionist policies being implemented by dozens of countries.

It would seem the main offenders for creating harmful trade policies are the US and EU, according to an analysis by law firm Gowling WLG.

The research has revealed that the world’s top 60 economies have adopted more than 7,000 protectionist trade measures on a net basis since the financial crisis. These could have been made in order to shore up key industries, protect jobs and maintain a strategic international advantage in the wake of the financial crash.

With the UK aiming to strike a quick deal with the EU as it leaves the bloc, the report offers some food for thought.

Almost half of all EU trade policies - some 49pc - made since 2009 were harmful to international trade with countries outside the single market, Gowling found.