> A lot of companies in Eastern Europe were obliterated when joining the EU and our local market was flooded with goods made in the west since the local ones weren't "up to standard" anymore. Even today we still have a huge trade deficit with the west as we import far more than we export.

This is the definition of colonialism. Expect the deficit to continue as your state is a colony.

I grew up on Maui. The pineapple & sugar cane were farmed there with inexpensive labor. The raw materials were lightly processed & shipped to the mainland to be manufactured. The sugar & to a lesser extent canned pineapple (it was easy to get fresh pineapple) were then sold at retail to the residents of Maui. HC&S (the sugar company) controlled the agricultural fresh water, so no agricultural competition could arise.

The local residents were not happy & conducted social, religious, & political action which included adhering to indigenous cultural practices to gain some concessions.

If you study the history of Hawaii & how its monarchy was overthrown in a coup by US business interests with the help of the US military (to protect the interests of US citizens of course) & the events since, you will have a set of tools to keep what is rightfully yours. Of course Hawaii is now a US State with a large military base & munitions. Aquifers are polluted by jet fuel from the US Navy which it still has not taken appropriate action for. The struggle continues...