US firms may become sluggish if cheaper products and efficient services are cut off to them due to protectionist policies, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Saturday, amid concerns that protectionism in US can affect Indian companies. He said India has so far not been impacted by US’ protectionist overtones and hoped nations will realise that free trade is the only way forward. Speaking at a session on ‘Asia’s Economic Outlook: Talking Trade’ on the sidelines of Asian Development Bank’s 50th annual meet here, he said developed economies are aided when their companies benefit from cheaper products and more efficient services outsourced from countries like India.