Los Angeles Times: “Obama and free trade: What’s the deal?”
Nine months into his administration, Obama’s trade policy is a pastiche of pro-trade rhetoric, violations of international agreements and protectionist bobbing and weaving. That’s why the U.S. can expect rebukes from its economic allies when the Group of 20 meets in Pittsburgh today. Obama’s recent decision to impose stiff tariffs on tires made in China is a clear violation of the vow made by all G-20 members not to raise barriers to trade, goods and investment.