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This article deals with the new resolution that has been passed by the EU government demanding that the free trade pact with the US be under discussion. This is to safeguard the movie industries and online media of countries like France against foreign competition. With the influence of American culture and Hollywood films in every country around the world, the EU is determined to maintain its own culture and industries. This is a good example of how countries set up trade barriers to protect their own local industries against powerful international competition.

WHEN the financial crisis hit, the G20, grouping together countries that produce more than 85% of the world's GDP, made all the right noises about trade. World leaders were determined not to repeat the mistakes of the 1930s, when protectionism led to economic disaster; and their apparent success in ensuring that global markets stayed open has been a rare glimmer of light in the economic gloom. Yet even this optimism may be misplaced. As a report from the World Trade Organisation (WTO) warns this week, the barriers are creeping back up.

This is an excellent article from The Telegraph that sheds some light on the possible creation of the world's largest trading bloc. This bloc would include the removal of trade barriers between the U.S., Great Britain, and all of the E.U., and would be of incredible importance and power given that this new trade relationship could strengthen all nations involved in order to rival the growth of nations like China and India. 

EU and US economies account for nearly half of the world's economic output and a third of global trade, meaning that a transatlantic free-trade bloc would hold great sway over emerging economic superpowers China, Brazil and India.

This article shows how there are regional trade barriers within Africa.

The leaders of five East African countries signed a protocol on Saturday laying the groundwork for a monetary union within 10 years that they expect will expand regional trade.

This article is about the East African Community (EAC) choosing to pass a monetary union deal. The trade comprising of Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi and Tanzania has decided to adopt a single currency for all the five countries. They plan to converge their currencies and establish a central bank, helping them to harmonize fiscal policies and increase commerce. Kenyatta, the leader of the biggest economy in the east Africa say that 'Businesses will find more freedom to trade and invest more widely, and foreign investors will find additional irresistible reasons to pitch tent in our region'.

South Korea has moved closer to joining a 12 Nation trading pact which aims to slash trade barriers between nations which make up about 40% of world economy. Some of these countries that are already in the pact include United States of America and Canada.They are entering negotiations about possibly joining the TPP - The Trans Pacific partnership Trade pact.

Although this article focuses on protectionism, in my opinion trade barriers come along. The WTO has lately noticed of an economic and trade slowdown because ofprotectionism, the global trade growth is estimated to decline from 5% to 4.5% next year which is alarming due to the fact the world's economy needs to recover. The article also talks about how trade protectionism is becoming more difficult to fight because it is difficult to fight because of the complexity and because its coming in different ways that we are not used to (for example:tariffs and export subsidies), and more and more regulations are being imposed each day.

As my fellow peer said this article is a perfect example of why protection policies shouldnt be used in some cases. The article states that due to trade protectionism policies the estimated anual growth will decrease from 5% do 4.5%! What should really happen is that countries should decrease their protectionism policies, let the economy gain a bit a stamina,in order to recover from the recesion, and only then increase protectionism once the economy has recovered and is growing.

the U.S. dollar edged down against the British pound and euro on Wednesday as a House vote on a Republican bill to reopen the government and lift the debt limit was cancelled, and Senate leaders resumed talks. The euro rose to $1.3551 from $1.3528 late Tuesday, and the pound advanced to $1.6013 from $1.5997. This article is a perfect demonstration of the currency war and the debt crises where the USA desperately tries to raise the debt barrier as depreciation of the dollar still occurs.