Pascal Lamy

The impulse to “go local” in answer to the financial crisis must be resisted. In fact, I would argue that we should continue “going global”, if I may say so, for the simple reason that many consumers have seen their purchasing power decline, and are in need of cheaper, more competitive goods and services, and not more expensive ones produced behind a national tariff wall. International trade helps lower the cost of goods and services to the final consumer.