Dear Obama, Keep Trade.

Clearly, Barack Obama and his team will face many serious challenges from the start. Accordingly, there's no shortage of advice coming from all corners of academia. An impressive volume of articles and books has been published recently, all written in hopes of nudging the new president in one direction or another. I had the honor of participating in the editing process for one such book due out in February entitled "International Trade: America's Destiny" by Dr. Patrick Mendis. The book explores America's founding and the importance of international trade in its development. Mendis suggests that trade is not only good for America, but for the world. This is not a new argument. What is new, however, is Mendis's multilayered approach. That America should maintain (if not increase) its free trade activity is suggested in the nation's architecture, its constitution, and in the founding fathers' vision for the new nation.

During his campaign, Obama hinted that he would pursue protectionist policies in order to keep jobs in America. Most foreign policy scholars, including Mendis, believe this would be a mistake. This book is a convincing reminder for Obama (and any student of government or economics) that international trade is written into the DNA of America - with good reason.

http://patrickmendis.blogspot.com/