Obama failing on trade

FROM PAGE ONE: "U.S. Stance Slows Trade Progress," by John W. Miller and Peter Fritsch, Wall Street Journal, 3 September 2009.

The promised Doha deal was simple enough: EU and US open markets to ag trade and get better access for their manufacturers and service providers in emerging markets.

Obama has yet to deliver any serious address on trade, and seems to be giving into the protectionist impulses of unions, which only delays needed economic changes here in response to global competition.

Obama needs to start charting a better, more realistic course, and the upcoming G-20 meet in Pittsburgh is a good place to start.

Otherwise, this perception of America being "the main obstacle to moving forward on global trade talks" will only grow.

Comments

[large]

Obama just shot himself in the foot with the China Tire deal. It could, conceivably, end up a near fatal wound if China really decides to retaliate.

We knew, going in Obama wasn't a "Free Trade" Guy, but to start a trade war with our biggest trading partner to satisfy the Unions who supported him certainly isn't very smart.

[Lexington Green]

Obama seems to have no concept of how important this issue is.

That is very troubling.