Recent American actions against Brazil over steel and against New Zealand and Australia over lamb imports were cited as worrisome protectionist moves.

Theories abound as to why the Bush administration - so squarely on the side of free trade - would make such a protectionist move.

Throughout the region, however, most nations are looking to China in hopes of expanding trade and opening new markets to counter protectionist moves in Europe and the United States.

The European Community's move this year to drop internal trade barriers "is a very protectionist move, and Japan has never been easy," said Mrs. Hettinga.

Somewhat paradoxically the PGS framework can be posited as both a protectionist move against global agro-economic policy, and a market-based neoliberal tool of agricultural governance.

But an American official said the President had also told Mr. Nakasone that the best way to avoid such protectionist moves was to further open Japan's market.

The steady trickle of U.S. protectionist moves, against everything from steel to Chinese bras, hasn't yet become a torrent.

We pooled our efforts very effectively in fighting the economic and financial crisis; our joint pledge at the G20 and WTO has helped to fend off protectionist moves.

An American plant would also help to deflect any protectionist moves, always a risk given that South Korea's car market is essentially closed to American companies.

The economy will not pick up very soon - and he will make it worse with protectionist moves.