The New York Times

Editorial

Waiting for a Trade Policy

Published: July 5, 2010
 
"At a time when protectionism is rising around the world, the United States must become a leading voice for open international trade."
 
The White House has announced that it wants to move ahead with a long-ignored trade pact with South Korea. The deal was reached by former President George W. Bush, but with President Obama planning to visit South Korea for a summit meeting of the Group of 20 major economies in November, he has now committed to resolving the outstanding issues and submitting the treaty for ratification after the fall elections.
 

This is good news, to be sure. But it is hardly enough at a time when protectionism is rising around the world......(more)....
 
The United States and China both put buy-at-home provisions in their stimulus programs. Russia introduced incentives to develop products to substitute for imports. According to the Global Trade Alert from the Center for Economic Policy Research, a European economic research forum, countries around the world have imposed at least 443 discriminatory measures against imports since November 2008..... (more)
 
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