Getting a grip on Chinese tyres
Barack Obama’s ruling will worsen tension, but unless it proves to be the first in a string of bad decisions, it need not be catastrophic. Cool heads can stop a global trade conflagration
The New Protectionism
Resources
As the financial crisis develops, concerns over free trade are growing as measures aimed at protecting national economies put the global economy at risk.
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GE attacks protection of green industries
Protectionism in environmental industries is undermining the fight against global warming and holding back the creation of green jobs, the company has warned
Business, not bureaucrats will get trade moving
Few people working in companies will pay heed to empty pieties emanating from Pittsburgh. It is businesses and consumers, not bureaucrats, that will get trade moving again
Australia warns on foreign investment
Australia’s foreign investment regulator said Canberra had a clear preference for foreign investments in its large companies to be kept below 15 per cent in comments that will be greeted warily by Chinese investors
Plea to exempt Canada from ‘Buy American’
The country’s prime minister hopes to persuade Barack Obama to change provisions in the US stimulus package, although Ottawa’s own free trade credentials have come under fire
G20 nations break ‘no protectionism’ vow
The world’s leading economies have continued to break their pledge of no protectionism with a raft of restrictions on trade and investment, say two authoritative reports
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Comment
Obama’s decision on tariffs is calculated cynicism
The US may import fewer tyres from China, but this decision is not going to jumpstart moribund domestic tyre production. This is protectionism without the protection, writes Charles Freeman
Regulatory protectionism won’t stop shocks
The fall out from the financial crisis had a far-reaching impact, but putting the brakes on globalisation is not the right answer, writes Henny Sender
Seeking protection
Perhaps transparency measures are having an effect in moderating trade restrictions. But letting in sunlight on protectionism is not enough to kill it outright
Insight: Protectionism comes knocking
A fundamental protectionist threat lies in global imbalances, which are at root of the financial crisis, writes John Plender
The perils of trade protectionism
The US must come to terms with its limited ability to muscle China into doing what it wants. China must keep adapting to a rule-based global trading order
Narrow-minded leadership hurts Europe
The protectionism we are experiencing now is caused by co-ordination failure. It is neither sudden, nor surprising, writes Wolfgang Münchau
Protectionism could sink the EU
A retreat from the goals of the European Union by its leaders into individual financial nationalism cannot be dismissed as an understandable response
Lex
To serve and protect
Economic nationalism, it is argued, will tip the world into a Great Depression. This is a horrifying but distant prospect
Economic patriotism
When a government can spray round a trillion dollars on more or less what it pleases, everything gets political real fast
Video
Fall-out from the crisis
The head of the World Trade Organisation on his fears of rising protectionism
Trade outlook
The World Bank’s chief economist on how protectionism could affect the economic outlook
Changes to global trade
The chief of DHL Express on why protectionism is a serious risk to prosperity
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