The Group of Seven finance ministers pledged Saturday to avoid protectionist measures as they attempt stimulate their own economies during face of the worst global economic crisis since the Great Depression. At the meeting was new U.S. Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geithner, who gave assurance President Obama's $787 billion economic recovery plan would not impinge in on free trade in any way.[1. Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090214/ap_on_re_eu/eu_italy_g7 Feb. 14, 2009]
Protectionism is often used during a Physical High, but since the machine age is ending now that the world has entered a Physical Low we are enacting a more fluid policy across open borders like NAFTA and the lessened protectionism to make the world "flatter."
Read more at: http://kalarhythms.org/world-cycles/history-j-2000s-ad/2000s-ad-millenium-timelines.htm#bus.phy.