Features of post-crisis protectionism in Asia and the Pacific
This paper provides an overview of developments in implementation of protectionist measures relevant for Asia-Pacific economies in the period associated with recovery after the Global Economic Crisis of 2008/2009. At the very start of the Global Economic Crisis, there was a real fear that the sharp collapse in exports and production in many countries would lead to repeat of the damaging trade wars from the 1930s. Fortunately, that never happened although the level of activity of governments in discussing additional or new protectionist measures as well as in implementing some measures has increased. Multilateral trading system has been credited for this obvious restraint in using tariffs as a measure of intervention during the crisis and in the recovery period. However, the same could not be said in connection to many non-tariff and behind the border barriers which were introduced during that time. Following a status report on protectionism in Evenett and Wermelinger (2010), this paper continues with monitoring features of protectionism relevant for Asia-Pacific economies in the post-crisis period.