国际英语新闻：WTO Chief urges joint efforts against protectionism

TOKYO, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- World Trade Organization (WTO) chief Pascal Lamy urged Wednesday world's major countries to collectively fight against protectionism, in particular, to bring the United States back on the track of free trade.

    Lamy said in Tokyo that the WTO is stepping up efforts to monitor to what extent governments around the world are adopting trade remedies, such as raising tariffs, to guard domestic industries after the outbreak of the financial crisis.

    WTO is currently trying to collect more information on newly-adopted protectionist tendencies.

    During his trip to Japan, his first since March 2007, Lamy held talks with political and business leaders, including Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai and other ministers.

    On Wednesday night, Nikai offered Lamy a report on cases of trade protection measures taken by other economies, according to economic ministry officials.

    The report, prepared by the ministry from official sources, presents recent trade measures taken by 13 countries or economic regions, including Argentina, India, Russia and the European Union. The U.S. "Buy American" provisions were also singled out.

    The cases chosen are intended to be purely factual in nature and should not be interpreted as expressing any form of opinion, the officials said.

    Lamy thanked Japan for its contribution and encouraged the country to keep persuading the United States to corporate on eliminating trade barriers.