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.

Canada asks the World Trade Organization (WTO) to rule against an American food-labeling law that seems to have destroyed much of its hog-farming industry, states the New York Times. The dispute derives from an American rule requiring that food products be labeled by country of origin. The U.S. government denies that labeling its food products is an act of protectionism, although Americans have decreased purchases of pork produced in Canada, traditionally about 7 percent of Canadian pork is consumed in the United States.

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.

What? You mean politicians don't always keep their word? Even outside the US?

According to Business Week, the Chinese government is upset with the newly increased tire tariff imposed by the Obama Administration. The 35 percent increase comes in response to the U.S. steelworkers compliant to the U.S. Commerce Department that the Chinese government was subsidizing the steel industry.

For the first time in 20 months Japan reported a surplus in trade this month, according to the Journal of Commerce.

Recently, many news outlets have reported on "protectionism" on the rise in many countries, particularly the United States. "Buy American" idealism has always sounded like a choir-like voice to many who work in the automobile industries and others manufacturer-related industries.