The European central bank prints the euro. After all, it is cheaper to print currency than to buy it in the foreign exchange market. Foreign exchange purchases by central banks are another form of hidden tax. The price of the euro on the foreign exchange market will ultimately be determined by its purchasing power, regardless of periodic buying and selling by central banks. The political economy of protection makes it difficult for countries to move to free trade by themselves.
Industries pay politicians quite a bit for protection with tariffs and quotas.
Lawmakers pass tariffs and quotas in exchange for cash and votes. Some people dislike the WTO because they see it as an evil arm of powerful multinational firms stealing national jobs. Others dislike it because they see it as an international government diluting national power. Still others see WTO as promoting environmental disaster. Others favor free trade but believe WTO is not necessary if countries would simply eliminate wasteful trade barriers on their own.