Free trade or protectionism?
An EU summit on the economy on 1 March will focus on the issue of protectionism dividing EU members. Does the economic crisis justify protectionist policies?
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has signalled he is determined to keep production lines working in France through giving subsidies to the French car industry.
Ahead of the summit, Gordon Brown, EU Commission President Barroso and the Czech prime minister have all exchanged public letters attacking protectionism. The French move raised fears that national protectionism could scupper hopes of recovery within the EU......but the french say that if the US defended its own industries, perhaps Europe should do the same.
Your views?