Global Trade Success » Protectionism

Doha Round Still Unresolved

lara — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:02:07 +0000

On Wednesday, 153 nations met to discuss the Doha Round, but left with little to no progress, states the Wall Street Journal. The Doha Round plan was created with a mission of opening rich-country markets to import food from the developing world. After eight years, little development has been made. Furthermore, issues such as the drop in trade and the hot topic of protectionism has reduced the enthusiasm to create a plan that everyone agrees with.

What is on the table doesn’t deliver “meaningful market access in the part of the world that will be growing and driving GDP growth over the next few years,” U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said, in a reference to countries like China, India and Brazil.

Not all countries are statisified with what is on the table so far. Some believe that the wealther countries will still profit more than the developing countries.

But, as Mr. Kirk puts it best:

The Doha Round “is like a cricket match. You don’t know the score and it takes a long time, but it does end, and there is a winner.”

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Obama and Hu Jintao to Talk Trade Among Topics to Discuss

lara — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:48:15 +0000

President Obama landed in China on Sunday to discuss some much needed topics with President Hu Jintao, according to Time magazine. One topic is trade. In recent months, trade issues has been heated between the two nations as both have thrown around the idea that each nation is participating in protectionism since the recession began.

“They’re working through a lot of scattered issues, but they are working through the WTO,” says James McGregor, the former chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China. “In the old days, every trade issue would become a very public and unstructured argument.”

China and the U.S. trade around $400 billion in goods each year. Many trade experts were concerned tension may get too high, making resolution difficult. But, U.S. officials dismiss that allegation, saying that the affected goods are only a small part of the total trade exchange.

New European Trade Measure Not Caused by Protectionism

lara — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:59:52 +0000

The New York Times reports that European exporters has been confronted with more than 223 new and restrictive trade measures since the beginning of the trade crisis last year, but has avoided protectionism. A new report out last Friday introduces the new trade measures issues by EU Commission and its trading partners.

“Proliferation of the kind of beggar-thy-neighbor protectionist policies of the 1930s has been prevented,” adds the document, which was reviewed by the International Herald Tribune. “The current multilaterally based world trade system seems to have passed one of the most serious stress tests in its entire history.”

The report concludes that the 18 percent decrease in trade since 2008 is due to financial crisis rather than protectionism.

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“European and North American Politicians Are Plotting the Biggest Trade Deal of the 21st Century”

lara — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:40:12 +0000

According to CNN, EU and Canadian officials sat down in Prague to begin discussions on a new Free Trade Agreement. Let’s just say, discussions went well because if the other NAFTA countries sign in, this could be the ‘biggest trade deal of the 21st century.’ NAFTA-EU trade would contain nearly 1 billion people and account for $35.2 trillion in annual GDP, more than half the world’s trade.

“The largest benefits will come from economic integration,” says Jayson Myers, president of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME), the country’s largest trade and industry association. By that he means increased foreign direct investment, improved labor mobility and full access to government procurement.

But, will this new proposed trade agreement see the light of day? That may be up to the U.S. Canada is more dependent on exports than the U.S., and with the new ‘Buy-American’ campaign from the Obama Adminstration, this could be a hard sell.

“The ball is in the Obama administration’s court,” says Steven Schrage, a specialist in international business at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington. “If they want this to happen, they can move rapidly.”

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U.S Officials Meet In China to Talk Trade

lara — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:44:55 +0000

Today, top trade officials from the United States and China will meet in Hangzhou to discuss trade relations between the two countries, according to Business Week. Recent tension has added some much needed topics to the table to discuss, particularly protectionism.

Beginning in September, President Obama added 35% duties on China-produced tires. And earlier this month, the U.S. Government launch an investigation into whether to raise tariffs on Chinese-made steel pipes. The Chinese Government quickly responded by launching its own investigation into possible anti-dumping of chicken and auto parts by U.S.

Other topics the U.S trade representatives want to discuss are:

- undervalued Chinese currency

-and, China’s poor record of protecting intellectual property rights, such as software, movies and music

Check back for changes that come from today’s meeting.

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Protectionist or Pro-Free Trade?

lara — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:08:44 +0000

Is President Obama a protectionist or pro-free trade? Both, according to a recent Los Angeles Times editorial. President Obama has been quoted as saying more jobs are created and costs are lowered in a free trade economy. But, the recent Stimulus plan angered many with the ‘Buy American’ clause attached to the plan.

Recent news about the large tariff placed on China for its tire imports, and refusing to allow Mexican truck drivers into the U.S. has also raised eyebrows to protectionism. But trade issues is not a new problem and not just in the United States.

Earlier this month, the WTO listed 91 potentially protectionist measures taken by G-20 members between the April summit in London and the end of August, and Global Trade Alert, a trade watchdog group affiliated with the World Bank, puts the number at 121 since November.

The position on protectionism or opening free trade even more will be answered in a matter of time. The G-20 summit began last week and will discuss these issues. President Obama will have the opportunity to make his stance on protectionism or pro-free trade more clear.

To read the full editorial, click here.