March 23, 2009
Fifteen leaders of the business, development, and faith-based communities wrote President Obama and Congress last week to oppose U.S. protectionism in response to the global economic crisis. Their joint letter, initiated by CGD, argues that protectionist policies will both worsen the effect of the financial crisis on poor people in developing countries and compromise U.S. economic and security interests. CGD senior trade associate Randall Soderquist tells how the letter came to be and why it matters.