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Business Daily

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Business Daily: Free global trade

10/08/2009

Free global trade

BBC World Service - Business Daily, Free global trade

As the leaders of America, Canada and Mexico meet trade barriers are still a problem.

Business Daily talks to, Gary Horlick, one of the world's leading trade lawyers, whose business is booming. The advocate is in great demand by companies unhappy at governments raising trade barriers.

President Barak Obama's been meeting the leaders of Mexico and Canada to discuss NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement, about which there's now discontent in all three countries.

In the run-up to his election, the president seemed to blow hot and cold on NAFTA.  He used strong sceptical rhetoric that pleased labour unions at home, but also quiet, re-assuring, words to Canada, where the government's angry that the United States makes life difficult for exports of Canadian wood. 

Meanwhile, the Mexican government's angry that the United States makes life difficult for Mexican truckers. Both countries are annoyed at the Buy American clause in Mr Obama's stimulus package. All this adds up to a burgeoning business for trade lawyers.  Gary Horlick is one of the world's leading trade lawyers.  He's based in Washington but acts for many companies and countries.  He tells Business Daily that he thinks disputes over trade are growing.

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